Klarinet Archive - Posting 000245.txt from 1995/10

From: niethamer@-----.BITNET
Subj: plating, C clarinet
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 23:01:30 -0400

re: plating, I have recently purchased an older C clarinet which has
chrome plated keys (not original equipment, obviously). All my previous
experience was with silver plating, which "grabs" the fingers a bit more
than the nickel alloy typical to most professional clarinets. Chrome is
reputed to be very "slick", possibly causing fingers to fall off the
keys, but in a month of regular use, I haven't had this trouble. Chrome
plating in this instance feels to me about the same as the regular alloy
plating, except I'm led to believe it will never wear out. I hope so!

re: C clarinet - what a dull world it would be if all the members of the
clarinet family sounded like an excellent Bb. Upon obtaining my C, I
immediately got out my parts to Symphonie Fantastique and Mahler Sym #1,
and played the "March to the Scaffold", and the "cuckoo" from the 1st mvt
of Mahler 1. These excerpts will never be the same to me, because the C
is the right (and very distinctive) color for these passages. The solo at
the end of the "March" is not only easier on the C, it has a much less
"beautiful" quality, and more of a touch of madness (Dan won't *let* me
say bright!!!).

In the slow movement of the Mahler, the passages for 2 Eb's and 2 C's are
much more unified tonally with the C clarinets than with the Bb's
transposing. Even in Beethoven (we did "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" this
week, so lots of excerpts), the last mvt of Smy 5, or the scherzo of Sym
9 take on a completely different character with the C clarinet - much
closer to the character of the oboes in Beethoven's orchestrations.

So for me, it's Vive le difference.

=========================
David Niethamer
niethamer@-----.edu
dbnclar1@-----.com
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