Klarinet Archive - Posting 000293.txt from 1996/01

From: CLARK FOBES <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: The Moenning Story---the book, the movie, or both
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 13:10:27 -0500

Well,

It would be pretty hard to get a "Moennig-Adjusted clarinet" right
now considering Hans Moennig died about 5 years ago.

I don't profess to know the whole Moennig story, but I do remember
hearing something about him working for his father in Germany as a
woodwind maker from a very early age. He was unique during his time for
his knowledge of the acoustical design of clarinets and bassoons and
his ability to adjust them based on that knowledge. He was, as I
understand, a perfectionist and a very fine craftsman.

The "Moennig" style barrel uses a reverse cone and the bore is
smaller than the standard Buffet bore. Those of us who make barrels now
generally use this reverse cone, but may alter the taper or dimensions
from standard Moennig measurements. I also understand that Mr. Moeenig
had a special reamer that he used on the upper bore of A clarinets to
free up the sound, but then one had to use his compressed bore barrel
to mitigate the resultant tuning problems.

It may be entirely possible that other craftsmen were equally
gifted at the time Moennig was working (the elder Frank Kaspar was
reported to be an excellent repair craftsman as well; he was the "K" in
the Stubbins "SK" register mechanism), but his association with the
Philadelphia players and those coming out of Curtis put him in a
position to achieve legendary status.

Those of us in the field of clarinet repair and acoustical design
owe Mr. Moennig a strong debt of gratitude as a model of craftsmanship
and dedication to improving the instrument.

Clark W Fobes