Klarinet Archive - Posting 000398.txt from 1996/10

From: Luuk van Buul <vanbuul@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Oehler system intonation?
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 03:47:37 -0400

On Tue, 15 Oct 1996 R Tennenbaum <rtenn@-----.com> wrote:

>Seeing the back-and-forth about tuning the horn through different
>registers brings to mind something I've been curious about for a
>while -- perhaps some of our European correspondents can say whether
>German/Oehler or Reform Boehm clarinets are more "naturally" in tune
>than French clarinets -- in any case, are the necessary adjustments
>similar to the ones Boehm clarinetists make?
>
> Rafe T.

I don't play on Oehler or reform Boehm myself, but several clarinettists in the
Philips' Symphonic band do. (I've tried once or twice to play a reform Boehm
Wurlitzer but I could not get a decent sound from it.)

My impression is that the German bore instruments tend to be higher as you go up
the scale (wide intervals) where French bore clarinets tend to be too low (small
intervals).
This maybe explains my difficulty in playing a reform Boehm: you have to relearn
embouchure/intonation. (Interesting point for the ongoing discussion on
'correcting/not correcting your embouchure while playing different notes')

Every clarinet has its own difficulties in speaking, intonation etc. However,
German instruments are generally top quality instruments, hand made and
corrected (and top-quality prized :) ). This can create the impression that the
system or the bore itself is 'better' but it has more to do with the quality
delivered by 'big' factories which can't afford to spend too much time on
adjusting mass products.

Luuk van Buul
--
================================================================================
L.J.M. van Buul vanbuul@-----.com
Philips Research Waalre Philips Optoelectronics Centre
Prof.Holstlaan 4
5656 AA Eindhoven Tel. +31 40 2744649
The Netherlands Fax. +31 40 2744335
================================================================================