Klarinet Archive - Posting 000402.txt from 1997/09

From: Jim Lytthans <lytthans@-----.net>
Subj: C clarinets
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 19:55:34 -0400

Ron Monsen commented:
> I remember when the list price of these instruments was $325 each--by a pair and you got one of the neatest double case ever made.

Ron,
Yea, the good old days. We must be about the same age (55?). How did
you get the custom mouthpiece, the case cover and a box of reeds? Robert
Gilbert must have cheated me, back in 1957. Next time I see him, I'll
tell him so!

Re: C clarinets. The best one I've ever played was a Leblanc Opus at
the ICA show in Paris last year. I was playing it at their booth, and
Stanley Drucker happened to walk up. Stan insisted on blowing it, and
also fell in love with it (the NY Phil owns a bunch of them, so why
would he want one?). Leblanc would not sell the horn, under any
circumstances ... no way, no how. Most of the Noblets I've played are
just OK, but not what I want. The selection of Cs here on the Coast is
really limited, as are Leblancs and Selmers. I do want one, but don't
want to pay a King's ransom, Monsen (poetic, no?) Any suggestions,
colleagues and peers?

--

Jim Lytthans
La Mirada Symphony Orchestra
Claremont Symphonic Winds
(http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/~dooley/csw.html)
My home page:
http://home.pacbell.net/lytthans/index.html