Klarinet Archive - Posting 000345.txt from 1995/01

From: Syd Polk <jazzman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Albert System Clarinets
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 1995 14:38:19 -0500

Well, to start with, I have only played with my friend Clint Baker's
Albert systems, but I will try to answer...

On Jan 24, 9:47am, "David A. GILMAN" wrote:
} Subject: Albert System Clarinets
} Syd,
} Thanks for listing some of the fingerings for the Albert system
} instruments. I had been curious about them for many years. I have a few
} more questions about them for you [or anyone else out there who knows the
} system]. First of all, are f' and c''' fingered T2 (left hand) only, not
} T3 as on some modern Oehler system instruments?

I don't know. My guess is that T3 would work better for f'' and T2 for
c''. Maybe T3 is the magic fingering that makes f'' work.

} Also, do f'# and c'''# use
} only 1 (first finger, left hand), not some side key combination?

Yes, it is only 1 or T1. Makes for pretty good scales in G, D, and A.

} As for e'b
} and b''b, was the recorder-like fingering the standard through the early
} 20th century, or did they switch over to a side key fingering at some point?

You know, you are right. 12/Side is an acceptable fingering, but I was
so used to recorder that I never used it much. I hate 12/side in general;
I avoid it as much as possible on both clarinet and saxophone.

} Lastly, did most later Albert system instruments have a bridge key? I ask
} this because I noticed that Baermann Book IV listed a fingering for c'''
} with the three fingers of the right hand down (plus the usual thumb and
} register key). Surprisingly enough, this worked on my Selmer (Boehm system,
} of course).

Depends on how many rings and stuff you have. Older Alberts had very
few rings and keys, and would not have had the bridge keys. The Ohlers
you can buy today in Germany would probably have this as well as
many other bells and whistles.

} I always wanted to try one of these, but from what I've seen, the
} finger span for the right hand could prove troublesome for small hands
} (since the the first finger covers the f''# hole instead of the f'' hole).
} Considering the difficulties the system causes for some scales, I can see
} why the Boehm system won out. But the Albert served well for many years,
} and I'm glad to know more about it

Well, I don't have small hands. However, the spacing on the right hand
seems a little more natural to me on Albert system because the index
finger is a little more spaced rather than being the same distance from
the middle finger. The right hand is not the problem; the left hand
fingerings are what killed me on the thing and made me appreciate Boehm
system even more.

Also, most alto Albert system have holes, and then you really have to have
big hands. The only bass I have seen had no holes, but two octaves.

} Thanks again,
}
} David Gilman

Your welcome,
Syd Polk
"Woodwind Geek"