Klarinet Archive - Posting 000517.txt from 1997/01

From: Donald Yungkurth <DYungkurth@-----.com>
Subj: Albert System, Bellison and Muhlfeld
Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 08:40:37 -0500

Dan Leeson quotes Fred Duerr's comments about the Albert System clarinet,
saying:

Fred suggests that the changeover from the Albert system clarinet is

principally because it "was impossible to play in certain keys."

This is questionable history. As a kid I heard Simeon Bellison (who

either played the Albert system or one very close to it) and there was

nothing that he could not manage. Nothing! The statement that

Fred made could well be attributed to the Boehm system. There are

keys that are very difficult to play on that system because of the

absence of all notes in both left and right hand fingerings. (CUT)

Muhlfeld

could give any living clarinet player a serious run for his/her

money and could probably hold first chair in any major world-

class orchestra. And I believe he played an Albert system.

Nicholas Shackleton, in "The Cambridge Companion to the Clarinet", states:

"Muhlfeld . . . . . used Baermann-system clarinets . . . . "

and a few pages later:

"The Oehler-system clarinet that is used almost universally in Germany today
has only minor difference in fingering from the Baermann system . . . . "

Lee Gibson, in "Clarinet Acoustics", states:

"Bellison . . . . . played Oehler and Oehler-system clarinets . . . "

Thus, Muhlfeld and Bellison, from the standpoint of fingering, played
essentially the same clarinet that is used in Germany today. What is
generally called the Albert or simple system clarinet is probably a
predecessor of the Oehler system. While professionals like Muhlfeld and
Bellison were likely using the most advanced German-type instruments
available at the time, the simple or Albert system instrument was widely used
long after their time and is, indeed, still in use.

As Dan suggests, the Boehm system has it weaknesses. I would imagine that
the Oehler does as well. I believe that either of these are far superior to
the Albert, however. Muhlfeld might well hold his own with today's
clarinetists, but not on an Albert system.

Don Yungkurth (DYungkurth@-----.com)