Klarinet Archive - Posting 000203.txt from 1997/01

From: Everett Austin <austine@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Clarinettist's Network
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 07:32:06 -0500

The clarinetist who got into trouble for playing a metal Selmer clarinet
in the BSO was none other than Gaston Hamelin (see Pamela Weston's book)
On
Wed, 15 Jan 1997, Dr. Ronald P. Monsen wrote:

> The Haynes flute makers of Boston indeed got into the silver clarinet market
> for a time. The A and Bb set that I played was of a double walled
construction
> with a vent on both ends of the body--you opened them and blow air to warm it
> up quickly. Selmer (Paris) also made professional model metal clarinets in
> silver. I own a Bb (1936 manufacutre) with five piece construction and a
metal
> mouthpiece. It is my understanding that the metal clarinet`s general level of
> acceptance and use as a student instrument kept further development from
taking
> place. The instrument I own has an articulated G# and plays very well. I
beli
> eve there was a story of a Boston Symphony rehearsal before WWII in which the
> clarinetist playing upon a metal instrument got into trouble. Ron Monsen
>