Klarinet Archive - Posting 000345.txt from 1997/11

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Leblanc Throat mechanism
Date: Sat, 8 Nov 1997 21:37:35 -0500

On Sat, 8 Nov 1997, ROBERT HOWE wrote:

> Roger Garrett wrote:
> > No offense meant here, but, if I read this correctly, you are saying that
> > no notes should need to be voiced or colored? Please forgive me for
> > thinking that perhaps you are not very advanced.....or, perhaps, you just
> > don't listen very carefully. No instrument built on the planet, including
> > the best string instruments, have perfect scales or perfect voicing on
> > every note. You add the SK mechanism to a horn....and solve one problem
> > but create others.

> Not at all, I am a 41 year old physician and professionally trained
> oboist who doubles on clarinet & Sax and has advanced training in
> woodwind acoustics. I'm not a pro player, but I have worked with many
> fine teachers and makers of modern and historical instruments.

Thanks for the description. I have been professionally trained on the
clarinet. Your description of the Buffet Bb is not indicative of a poorly
built instrument.....just one we learn to play.

> My
> observation is that clarinets, inch for inch, are much less well voiced
> than oboes, and that the clarinet has a couple of really obnoxiously
> built notes, the worst being throat Bb, which no oboist would accept.

This is a good thing to notice. On the other hand, you should then be
careful when making statements regarding specific clarinets and their
problems.

> BTW, I do not advocate the SK mechanism or any other. I use, on my
> Buffet R13 Bb and Selmer Series 9 Eb, the third side key with A for slow
> throat Bbs,

Which is quite flat on the R13......something I hope you do not do on
sustained tones.

> keeping fingers down and using the standard and to me very
> imperfect fingering for Bb in fast passages.

Try third finger of each hand (ring fingers) and the C/F key of the
right.....then voice the note. You will never use the ugly, strident,
flat sounding side Bb again......played correctly, this fingering will
sound as good as any other note on the horn.

> On bassett horn (LeBlanc)
> and Bass clarinet (Buffet prestige) I use the standard fingering and the
> horn fixes it for me.

Great....and I suppose your clarion register G, A, and Ab, plus the upper
octave are all perfect too.....The basset horn has many more voicing
problems than the Buffet R13...and I own a Leblanc Bassett and a Buffet
Prestige Bass clarinet. The Bb's may be fine.....but there are always
other concerns.

Roger Garrett