Klarinet Archive - Posting 000260.txt from 1995/05

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: assembly required
Date: Sun, 7 May 1995 20:38:55 -0400

A number of years ago I had a case made for a C clarinet and decided
to keep the instrument assembled from bell to barrel in the case. Except
for the cleaning, the instrument has not been disassembled in years.
Plays fine. Corks are not troublesome. Perhaps it would be different
if I disassembled it from time to time for extended periods. But
the concerns I hear mentioned about keeping instruments in one piece are
not happening on that C.

I also mentioned about 2 weeks ago that I did about a dozen performances
of Prokoffiev's Romeo and Juliet ballet. Well I just left the b.c.
assembled in the pit for about a week, making sure to put a lot of
cork grease on before the initial assembly. No problem. Maybe if it
were assembled for a month or longer there might be some negative
consequences, but that has not happened on my C.

Herb Blayman keeps a clarinet out at all times. I don't think he put it
away in the last 10 years. He uses it to try his mouthpieces. He has
not had a cork problem. But Herb is also no longer playing professionally.
He is retired.

If there is a problem, I have not seen it.

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