Klarinet Archive - Posting 000289.txt from 1994/12

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Extra key on the Presige Model Buffet
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 1994 16:02:10 -0500

In the discussion of the Prestige model Buffet, several people have commented
negatively about the presence of the A-flat/E-flat key for the left pinkey.
It seems to me about evenly divided into three responses: (1) don't
want it, (2) don't need it, (3) have difficulty reaching it or it gets in
the way.

I want to mention the fact that for those contemplating getting a bass
clarinet, it is very difficult to find one without that key. Perhaps its
value is greater for a larger instrument, but the point I am trying to make
is that if you get used to it on your bass, you will want it on your
soprano, and if you can't get used to it on your soprano, you are not
going to be able to use it effectively on your bass. At a subconscious
level, I think your fingers (attached to your head of course) just reach
for things that they expect to find in place, which is one of the reasons
why having a different fingering system for one instrument over another
can possibly give rise to problems. I find that especially true of having
an articulated f-sharp/g-sharp on the b.c. and not having it on soprano
and sometimes I try to use it and it's not there (such as in the trill
in Carmen that makes wonderful use of an f-sharp/g-sharp capability).

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Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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