Klarinet Archive - Posting 000353.txt from 1998/03

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Scientific American Article
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 14:43:36 -0500

A couple of points on the plastic/wood controversy:

First, someone posted that Howarth (U.K.) is making a pro plastic
clarinet. I haven't seen one, but I have played on a friend's wood
Howarth and it's a fine instrument.

Second--abount the weight. When first made, the clarinet was not made
of african blackwood, but the (then) more common boxwood. William
McColl = the University of Washington (one of my teachers) had a pair of
boxwood Buffets made for him in the 70's, which he has performed on
continuously since that time. I think he sounds the same on wither the
boxwood or blackwood clarinet--indeed, for a while he was using a
blackwood A--but the boxwood horn seemed to be about 50% lighter. It
was a joy to play because of the lighter weight.

kjf

----Original Message Follows----
Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 09:44:11 -0600 (CST)
From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subject: Re: Scientific American Article

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998, George Kidder wrote:
> But this is a quibble, and the real problem remains. If indeed the
shape
> and size of the bore and its vents is the only thing that affects the
tone,
> loading the plastic with dense wood is merely a way to further strain
our
> right thumbs. As several have commented, we will never be sure of the
> effect of clarinet material on our playing until someone makes a
plastic
> clarinet with the same skill and devotion as currently used on wood
> instruments, and until some expert players are willing to give these
> instruments an unbiased trial.

I really like the way the Greenline clarinet looks as opposed to your
basic, brushed Yamaha or Selmer plastic clarinet. It really looks like
a
wood clarinet! Maybe the wood dust helps with the aesthetic appearance?

Roger Garrett
IWU

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