Klarinet Archive - Posting 000026.txt from 1994/07

From: Jim Freeman <collnjim@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Metal Clarinets
Date: Fri, 1 Jul 1994 20:18:30 -0400

On Fri, 1 Jul 1994, Clark W Fobes wrote:

> I don't want to get this whole debate started again and did not mean to
> denigrate metal clarinets for their material. > > I was not aware that
Selmer made a professional model metal clarinet. I > am sure it is
probably very well made. I did mention the Haynes clarinets > that I have
seen that are beautiful. > > Clark W Fobes >

Rosario Mazzeo used to tell a story about a metal clarinet that was
responsible for the demise of Gaston Hamelin (at the B.S.O., anyway). It
seems that, during a rehearsal, one of Hamelin's solos was regarded well
enough that it met with applause by the orchestra. Hamelin (who was a
consultant for Selmer, so, presumably, the clarinet he was playing was a
Selmer) waved his clarinet to acknowledge the applause. When
Koussevitsky saw that someone had dared to play a metal clarinet in his
clarinet section, he was so furious that he, evidently, made sure that
Hamelin's contract was not renewed.

Metal clarinets can be dangerous items.

Jim Freeman( collnjim@-----.edu)