Klarinet Archive - Posting 000297.txt from 1996/03
From: "Daniel A. Paprocki" <dap@-----.US>
Subj: Re: more C clarinets
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 10:05:42 -0500
Lorne,
You almost got me there. The C clarinet does have a unique color -
it's a cross between an Eb and a Bb. In the Witches Sabath solo, the tone
color is extremely closs to an Eb and given the character of that solo
(staccato, grace notes, fast, trills) it's very hard to center in on the
color difference.
I wish we all could have C clarinets. One question are you a full
time musician or a very devoted amateur? Please don't be offended, I'm a
very big booster of amateur musicians (my wife is a very good amateur
clarinetist). I feel they are a much overlooked resourse in the music
world and deserve more attention. The reason I ask that is that usually a
musician doen't have alot of extra money around to buy horns that will get
used on rare occasions (untill he/she wins the big one and is playing for
Solti or whoever). I'm a professional musician employed part time (sub
with Columbus Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony). My wife (college prof)
does the main income so to buy an extra clarinet (D or C) would be putting
my life at risk. It's bad enuff when I come home from clarinet conventions
with some magic ligature, reed holder, or whatever (you sold the cow for
these magic bean?!!!) Until we have two full time incomes my magic
clarinets will have to wait.
Now here's my other theory - ready? I think clarinetist, in
general, are CHEAP (myself included - but then I grew up in Milwaukee).
I'm amazed at my bassoon and flute friends who buy an instrument for the
price of a good sports car. A little while ago there was a long debate
over which toxic chemical to soak reeds in so that we wouldn't have to
spend $15 to buy a box of reeds - is that cheep or just sentimental (but
it's my "favorite" reed). The subject of cheap bass clarinets came up. I
flinch when I see mouthpieces going for over $100 (I still buy them). How
many of you stop first at the bargan bin in the music store when buying
music - I do! Sometimes I feel I'm buying music by the pound. When was
the last time anyone bought a french published piece - $39.95 for 4 pages
of music, ha, ha, ha, ha - I think the library has that and if I'm not
right there's a Kinko's right across the street. We question why repairmen
charge so much and how can I do my own repair work? Look at trumpet
players. They carry around giant steamer trunks full of Eb, C, D, pics,
lead pipes, 20 mouthpieces. We're the only instrument that brag about
having an Italian heritage where the player had one clarinet (with only 7
keys!!) and transposed everything - even after a pound of linguine and a
liter of Rose! I love spending money - when I have it.
My idea on "cold horns" is valid. I really don't want to play with
a clarinet under my coat - actually try it for one movement or one page of
a Mahler symphony. Using a short barrel would work but then you get into
problems when the clarinet does warm up and either you pull out (which
would be more than your normal barrel, so the throat tones would go
flatter) or you don't have time (no rests) to pull out (so you fight with
your embrouchure to keep the pitch down). In a professional orchestra they
want the right notes in the right place at the right pitch - how you arrive
at all that isn't too important. I will gladly accept any C or D clarinet
(preferably Buffet - it doesn't have to be a Prestige) donation. Please
contact me personally for the delivery arrangements. This would be a tax
deduction for you since I'm (still) a non-profit organization.
Dan
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Daniel A. Paprocki
dap@-----.us
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