Klarinet Archive - Posting 000640.txt from 1998/04

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: The Infinite vs. Buffet R-13 & E-12
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 05:07:05 -0400

I believe Benny Goodman, at least once he had achieved fame, mostly used
Selmer clarinets. As I understand it, he was hard on clarinets and
Selmer used to give him a half-dozen new ones each year. He, in turn,
frequently gifted friends or people who had done him a favor with the
ones he didn't like or had worn out. When I was in college back in the
mid-60's, I knew a guy who had one of these instruments. Goodman had
given it to his music teacher in Warren, Pa. for some reason and the
teacher sold it to my friend for $125. I tried it one time (so Jason, I
guess I got to play one of "the" [many] clarinets). I could not believe
the backpressure compared to my R13. I could hardly get it to play.

To this day, I'm amazed my friend could play it at all. He really
wasn't very good. He used to tape keys down so that he could only play
scales in C, F and G. He figured the odds he'd hit some other sharp or
flat by mistake were greater than the odds he'd need the note! True
story.

Best regards,
Jack Kissinger
St. Louis

Jason Hsien wrote:
>
> Also, on a side note... just a couple days ago, I was at Radio City Music
> Hall and saw "the" clarinet... Benny's clarinet. It was just a very weird
> feeling looking at that clarinet, knowing that "the" great jazz clarinetist
> of all time (of course, IMO. you might not think so) played it.
>
> Jason Hsien