Klarinet Archive - Posting 000206.txt from 1994/03

From: "Steven A. Haaser" <HAASER@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: How much should I pay for a nice metal clarinet?
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 1994 10:39:10 -0500

Ron Monsen writes:

>... The metal clarinets of the period were considered truly
>student quality. But--how many times have you seen professional flutists-
>on a regular basis play on wooden flutes? At one time the metal flute was
>considered "outside" the norm.

Having a couple of wooden flutes I'll make the following observation. Both
the wooden and metal flute lay well in the hands. The couple of metal
clarinets I've held feel quite awkward because they are much narrower than
their wooden counterparts. The difference in the two types of flutes is
much less noticeable. I think a conical-bore metal piccolo is another
example of an instrument that looks peculiar and is awkward to play.