Klarinet Archive - Posting 000510.txt from 1998/02

From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@-----.net>
Subj: Re: klarinet-digest V1 #662
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 08:32:25 -0500

RE; Leeson's article on the primitive clarinet, see Galpin SOciety
Journal, March 1994, "Woodwind Instruments--The Acoustical Path Since
1700" by Arthur Benade; and Larigot Jan 1988 and Mai 1988, "Deux Annees
de Recherche au Service de la Facture des Clarinettes Anciennes" by
Gilles Thome for additional insight and explanations.

This having been said, I think much of Dan's premise is a little
off-pitch. He seems to be defending the Mozart/Stadler clarinet's honor,
but there is no need to do this, res ipsa loquitor, the thing speaks for
itself--listen to Antony Pay on his recording of teh Mozart clarinet
Quintet. The 5 key clarinet is indeed more primitive, and the one key
flute is even more primitive, as compared to the modern systems; but as
Dan points out, this was NOT a disadvantage in the music of the time.
Again, this was NOT a disadvantage in the music of the time. The word
"primitive" seems to be the problem, but should have no negative
connotations here, the ancient Egyptian society was primitive next to
ours yet produced phenomenal things. Remember that the root word of
"primitive" is "primus"-- meaning "first".

The primitive (5-key) clarinet was mechanised before the primitive
(2-key) oboe because it had to be; even the simplest clarinet in C or Bb
or A needs B, C#, A and register keys to produce a complete scale; the
earliest Denner clarinets preserved at Nurnberg (which are in D) have
only A and register keys but have gaps in the scale. Primitive
clarinets just don't work as well in many keys as primitive oboes, hence
earlier mechanization of the clarinet as composers like Mozart and Haydn
and Beethoven became more harmonically daring. Similarly, modern
clarinets just don't play as easily in as many keys as modern oboes,
hence the retainment of the A clarinet today. And before everyone gets
on his high horse and flames me for that remark, I am a competent player
on both oboe and clarinet and can play historical forms of each, I'll
take key of Ab or B natural on the modern Conservatory or Wiener oboe
over the same key on Boehm or Oehler or Albert clarinet anytime, 25
hours a day, 8 days a week.

SO much more to say, but the references say it better than I can and
they are already written, the best way to understand this is to buy a
replica 5 key clarinet and to learn to play it. Then you will
understand both that it is indeed a "primitive"--ie, early
form--instrument and that it is a wonderful, musical instrument which is
perfectly suited to the diatonic writing of the 18th century. Form
follows function....

Robert Howe