Klarinet Archive - Posting 000020.txt from 1994/07

From: Lisa Clayton <clayton@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Metal Clarinets
Date: Fri, 1 Jul 1994 18:34:04 -0400

> My problem with metal clarinets is that many, many student model
> clarinets were made that really are junk. Unless you have sat at a repair
> bench 50 hours a week in a stuffy shop in 100 degree weather working on
> these things all summer you have no idea how poorly most of them are
> constructed .
>
> I am interested in the development of the metal clarinet. Since they
> began to appear in the 30's I wonder if it was an answer to lack of blackwood
> from Africa due to the Nazi occupation in North Africa. Not being a WWII
> historian, I may have the dates confused
>
> Any answers out there?

That's an interesting theory, and might be correct. My assumption was
that metal clarinets were made for the same reason instrument
makers put Victrola-looking horns on violins and National made
metal guitars-- LOUDNESS. Back in the early part of this century,
playing loud enough to be heard over dancers and party-ers was a
major consideration, before electric amplification. Additionally,
picking up sound on early recordings was a problem. I'd assumed
the metal clarinet was made for the same reason, but that doesn't
explain all the models made during the 30's, when amplification was
less of a problem. Ah well, so much for the "Dobro Clarinet" theory.

Lisa K. Clayton
San Francisco, CA
clayton@-----.edu
lisa@-----.edu
(starting her Jazz Clarinet lessons tomorrow :-) )