Klarinet Archive - Posting 000605.txt from 1995/06

From: Floyd Williams <f.williams@-----.AU>
Subj: Re: Is clarinet European?
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 17:14:00 -0400

Re high pitch clarinets: A clarinet with an F prefix is not tuned to a440.
Your Selmer Prologuewould be at home in France or Germany, but not in the USA.

>>
>> I have a Buffet-Crampton A clarinet that I picked up used about a year
>> ago. Recently I picked up a Korg tuner because I was curious about the
>> intonation. I notice that this clarinet seems to
>> play sharp (about 20 cents) througout the range from F below the stave
>> to the F above. I've tried a longer barrel and also pulling the existing
>> barrel out which seems to help through much of the range, although the
>> highest notes remain sharp, although not as much.
>>
>> I'm wondering if there is a possibility that this might be a European
>> instrument tuned to A@-----.S A=440? Or if it might be a problem
>> with my embouchure? Just thought I'd check before investing in another
>> barrel. The serial # is 76713.
>>
>
>I have been having tuning problems like this one for as long as I can remember.
>My Buffet (when I'm playing it) has an A=440 with the barrel not pulled
>out. Almost everybody in the orchestras I play in here in the Netherlands
>plays on a Buffet crampon (around 90% of the players, I guess. The rest
>play on selmers, leblancs and a few lucky ones have a wurlitzer [drool]).
>They almost consistantly play at A@-----.
>
>I have noticed that practically ALL dutch wind bands play sharp. Not only
>the clarinets, but the entire orchestra. Symphonic orchestras seem to play
>closer to the 440, but never flat. (But that's just my idea...)
>
>I heard things are the same in Japan. I actually once saw a vibraphone
>with the A marked 'A@-----.
>
>This is of course a very strange phenomenon (referring to the clarinet again):
>There is supposedly no difference between the Buffet played in Europe and
>anywhere else, the reeds are to same brand (Vandoren, Rico, etc.)....
>
>Anyone have an explanation, or am I just wrong in my observations?
>
>Twan Maintz.
>
>