Klarinet Archive - Posting 000569.txt from 1997/06

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: Re: QUESTION ABOUT PITCH
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 20:26:27 -0400

I apologize for including so much of the message, but i think Jeroeme brings up several very
interesting questions about clarinet pitch and equipment.

First, I must admit that i have very little experience with the Elite clarinets ans the
respective pitch problems. Generally all instruments that Buffet makes solely for the european
market have an "F" at the beginning of the serial number. These instruments are designed to be
played at about A@-----. In the case of the RC Eb clarinets the instrument is built only at A=443,
but longer barrels (43mm vs. 41 for R-13 Eb clarinets) are shipped with those instruments sent
to the US. It may be the same case with the Elites and thus the two barrel lengths.

Still, I am very confused that Jeroeme states that they are using the "long" barrels and still
pulling out 4-6mm!!! Perhaps there is language problem here. If not, I can certainly understand
the problems the section must have playing in tune!!!

The problem seems to be that the orchestra is generally tuning lower than these clarinets can
play comfortably. I suspect that the mouthpieces may be a mismatch for the clarinet. In any
event Jeroeme and his colleagues are trying to resolve the problem with longer barrels and
compounding the existing problem by making the throat tones extremely flat!

Many of us seem to forget that pulling the barrel has a much greater effect on the tones closest
to the mouthpiece. As an example, 1mm is a much greater pecentage of the "tube" length from the
mouthpiece to throat "G" than from the mouthpiece to lowest "E".

Buffet R-13 Bb clarinets are built at A@-----. Using
either a 65mm barrel or a 67mm is acceptable if the volume of the mouthpiece is either a bit
large or a bit small, but going beyond these parameters really throws off the proportions of
clarinet.

Pulling a barrell out further than 1mm also creates problems in that the enlargement created by
the large gap between the barrel and the top joint causes inordinate flatness in the area of
"throat" E and F.

The solution most likely will require some re-tuning of the lower joint of the clarinet by an
astute craftsman and perhaps finding mouthpieces that play a bit lower.

Clark W Fobes
>hello all clarinet-lovers,

>
>
>Our clarinet group (of the Brabant orchestra in Eindhoven-the netherlands)
>is plying on Buffets Elites clarinets and B40 mp (and vandoren french cut
>#3). We had two different sized barrels with the clarinets and we are using
>the long ones. But, whlie plying, we have to put the barrel out for aprox.
>4-6 mm. I find that very much, and this is, to play on a 442-443Hz A.
>What I want is to have an instrument on wich I can play with the short
>barrel (and only max 3 mm. out) a A@-----.
>
>My question: your instruments (the Buffets made for the US market) are
>pitched for A@-----. Could you be so kind and play on a warm
>"horn"and play a few notes with a tuner. Take a short barrel, and what do
>you get?
>
>My point is: I want to know if it is probably the case, that when you play
>on a short barrel, on a warm intrument, you perhaps play 442/443. If that
>is the case, I will think about maybe purchasing a American-pitched Buffet
>(Vintage or R13)...
>But: it has to be, that I can play on that intrument with an A@-----.
>
>Becaus": I want to play on short barrels and with no more than 2/3 mm.
>barrel-out. I think that is the ideal position for the tuning of the
>intrument 9especcially the throught notes causes very much problems in our
>group, due to the long barrel and the quite much milimeters out of the
>barrel)
>
>(Sorry for my bad English..I hope you kind folks can understand my
>question).
>
>Maybe you have other ideas, suggestions etc. concerning this fact.
>I find it quite frustrating, always to think notes low on the clarinet, I
>mean: I should be much easier when not all the notes are to high on the
>clarinet, and: its quite frustrating to have the throught-notes so
>low...very difficult in forte-passages.
>
>Well,
>
>happy playing, music-listening,
>
>yours,
>jeroen T. Salm
>The Netherlands
>
>
>