Klarinet Archive - Posting 000163.txt from 1995/05

From: John Henninger <bunky@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Instrument Questions
Date: Thu, 4 May 1995 16:56:37 -0400

The French military commissioned Adolph Sax to develope an instrument
that was easier to play than the clarinet yet enough volume to hold
it's own against the brass of a band. By designing an instrument with a
conical bore and made of brass Sax solved the volume problem. He based
the fingering on the oboe, thus simplifying fingering considerably. No
less a clarinetist than Artie Shaw once discribed the clarinet as "A
rather awkward instrument" because of the differences between the
registers. The clarinet is blessed with some incredible pluses; it
blends beautifully with other woodwinds and French horns and it is
second only to the bassoon in range. However when it comes to playing
arpeggios I'll take my flute and saxes anyday. John