Klarinet Archive - Posting 000591.txt from 1996/02

From: Floyd Williams <f.williams@-----.AU>
Subj: Re: Buffet Elite Clarinet
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 1996 16:17:09 -0500

>I am interested in hearing from anyone on the list who has tried the Buffet
>Elite model instruments. What are your impressions regarding sound,
intonation,
> suitability for orchestral playing, etc.?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Kim
>
>To Kim and others who replied re the Buffet Elite clarinet, you might be
interested in this quote from William Stubbins' book "the Art of
Clarinetistry":"The psycho-acoustical phenomena of actual weight also has
some effect(on the player's perception of tone quality). This is certainly
measurable in terms of density,but as to effect as simply weight, is
probably largely a matter of the player's response, and not the instrument.
Make an instrument of a very dense and heavy material, but somehow make it
weightless,and the response of the player and his judgement would be quite
different than otherwise. It is obvious that the simple mechanics of holding
an instument,therefore has a psychological or psycho-acoustic effect". This
is on p.316.

I think that people's opinion of the Elite is largely due to this phenomenon
referred to by Stubbins.If they would get a good tape recorder and record
their present clarinet and the Elite, the result might be different,but the
usual approach is to play a few notes on it and pronounce it to have a
"thin" tone. If you decide to try one, take it home and play it for an hour
or so,in order to really judge what it sounds like rather than what it
"feels" like.
Floyd Williams
Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA