Klarinet Archive - Posting 000864.txt from 1997/08

From: avrahm galper <agalper@-----.com>
Subj: new pads for new
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 1997 14:26:26 -0400

New pads for new@-----.

The Aladdin story should be "new lamps for new"

There was a question whether new clarinets should have new pads put on.=20

I remember at the local Boosey and Hawkes (that imported Buffet
clarinets at that time) the instruments came in sealed bags. They sat
here for a few months, the bags were then unsealed and the instruments
put into new clarinet cases. There is something to the change of climate
and environment.

In this regard I want to tell of a lunch that I had with Arthur Benade
at my home, this was during the International clarinet conference in
Toronto in 1978.

As we sat the table, discussing (what else?) clarinets I asked Dr.Benade
"Why is it that one can try a clarinet at the store and like it very
much. Then come home and find there is a slight leak from one of the
pads. One then changes the pad and then finds the clarinet does not play
well anymore?"

His answer was" The leak covered the defects in the horn".

>From then on, whenever I went to B&H to select a clarinet, I tested the
top section of the clarinet to see if there was any leak. If there was,
I covered the holes of the top part of the clarinet with masking tape
that I had taken along. When I was sure that it was air tight, only then
did I test the clarinet.

And here is another trick that I learned from one of my Greek clarinet
player friends. Whenever I brought an Albert system clarinet to him
(this is the type of clarinet they like to play) I would notice that my
friend played the clarinet very softly for about 4-5 minutes. I thought
to myself- that is because he wanted to show me that the instrument has
no power. I asked him about that and he said that that is the way to
test the instrument, if it plays well softly, it will be all right when
played loudly.
So, utilizing that trick, whenever I try a new clarinet, I make sure
that the top joint is very airtight (whether on its own or with the help
of masking tape covering the holes).

I would then play the clarinet softly, just playing a slow chromatic
scale in the low register. If the clarinet had a natural " ring " to it
I would decide that instrument was OK (after playing some high notes
also)
I didn't go for playing the latest clarinet concerto in the high notes
to find out about the horn.
The basic body had to be good and that is the low register.

What does all this mean? I think that one should not change the pads
right away. If they are good leave it at that and practice to "break"
in the horn.

Avrahm Galper
Adjunct Professor
University of Toronto
Royal Conservatory of Music