Klarinet Archive - Posting 000390.txt from 1995/04

From: Steve Fowler <sfowler@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Older clarinets
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 1995 21:20:30 -0400

You wrote:
>
> Recently I mentioned to my colleague in the orchestra here that
>there had been some discussion on the list about clarinets being "blown
>out." I asked him if he knew the characteristics of an instrument that had
>been "blown out." His reply indicated that he believed that, if it happens
>at all, one could only tell by comparing one's old clarinet with a new
>one. I would really like to hear some feedback about this. I have two
>clarinets, each of which is between 25 and 35 years old. (I really don't
>know how old they are because I purchased each used...both R-13's.) I
>haven't noticed any glaring changes in the instruments, but then the
>changes, if any, might have occured in a very subtle way over a long
>period of time. Is this a problem of changing resistance?
> If anyone has some thoughts about this, I would be eager to hear
>them. My wife says I'm just looking for an excuse to get a new set of
>clarinets!
>
>James Sclater inet:
sclater@-----.edu
>Mississippi College
(601)925-3445
>Clinton, MS 39058
>
James,

This is a question that pops up often among clarinetists. My belief is
that there are certainly conditions that _could_ affect an instrument to the
point as to render it useless; those being caused by abuse or a general lack
of care. And as an instrument wears over time, keys loosen up to where they
do not close properly, (play in the hinges, etc.), tone holes develop checks
and or chips and sometimes the bore shrinks a little too much. All of these
changes are correctable.

My feelings are that if you remove all of the above by having your
instrument serviced by a professional who specializes in clarinets, the
instrument will not change greatly over a period of time. What I believe
changes is a player's concept of what a clarinet _should_ be. Whether it be
resistance, projection, sound quality, timbre, or whatever, we, like all
living creatures, _change_ over a period of time more than an instrument
does. Look at the difference in concepts of symphony clarinetists between
the 70's with Marcellus et al, and the sound of symphony players today. The
concept of the clarinet player is changing, and with it what we want out of
our instruments.

Just my thoughts.

later,

Steve
--
Steve Fowler (sfowler@-----.com)