Klarinet Archive - Posting 000498.txt from 1997/01

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Matched pair
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 16:47:19 -0500

On Fri, 24 Jan 1997, Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu wrote:

> It is strange to ask and answer one's own question but I would like to
> suggest that a matched pair, at one time in history, meant that the wood
> for both clarinetscame from the same tree, and it may have even meant from
> the same branch or trunk of the same tree. So the matching meant something

First, I acknowledge the much more extensive knowledge of such things
on the part of Dan and others on the list. However, I have used the term
"matched pair," and the above is not what it means to me. Perhaps one way
of getting at this would be to describe what would _not_ be a matched
pair. For example, I would think that if a player had a Bb instrument of
one manufacturer, one which tended to be higher in pitch and lower in
resistance in the upper register, and an A of another manufacturer with
just the opposite characteristics, that would not be a matched pair.

It seens self-evident to me that it would be advantageous if two
instruments which a player had to use in close proximity matched each
other to a degree in terms of what they require of the player. Naturally,
good players are expected to and do adjust to the requirements of
instruments of rather widely differing characteristics. However, there is
a limit to how far the player can go in this regard without causing
noticeable discrepancies in intonation and tone quality.

I suppose that if it is the contention that there is no such thing as a
pair of clarinets which have more nearly similar traits, or more
dissimilar ones, then I am in error about this. This would seem to lead
to the logical conclusion that all clarinets are necessarily the same with
regard to performance characteristics. Please explain.

Ed Lacy
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Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
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