Klarinet Archive - Posting 000658.txt from 1998/04

From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@-----.net>
Subj: Re: And apropos of old instruments....
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 05:07:23 -0400

As a player, collector, and student (someday, perhaps, I shall merit the
moniker "scholar") of historical woodwinds, I think a fine oboe, or
clarinet, or Saxophone, is a work of art, rather than just a tool.
Thus, I must completely and utterly disagree with Roger on this one,
although in a jovial way. Some of the finest specimens of oboes from
past centuries have been made useless to players and scholars--today and
in the future--by half and full hearted atttempts to "modernize" them.
One shudders to think of the 1770 Englehardt two keyed oboe with a vent
hole drilled in the back to act like an octave key, or of Triebert
curved cors anglais that have been rebored to alter the pitch so that a
modern player could use them in ensemble, or the Buffet jeune (1830)
oboe that I own that has been shortened in the top joint for that same
reason.

Now, adding a single adjusting screw is not a big deal, but it does
change the instrument. This instrument was probably built to A435.
Should the owner also alter all the toneholes, to get it to play at
A440? We don't have an unlimited stock of fine clarinets from 1920 in
original condition, and I think that the value of this clarinet to the
future and the obligation that we have to treat works of art with
respect outweigh any minor advantage to be gained by placing the screw
in question. You can always adjust the cork...

Robert Howe

Roger Garrett wrote:
>
> Thanks for the opinion. However, if I personally decided to buy the horn,
> I would want to use it - and there is no significant value to it as an
> antique (the design simply is not much different from the current R-13,
> and it has the same number of rings and keys) - I would have done to it
> whatever needed to be done to get it to play its very best!
>
> Roger Garrett
> IWU
>
> On Mon, 13 Apr 1998, ROBERT HOWE wrote:
>
> > It is a poor practice to add keys to antique or historical instruments,
> > which this one certainly is. Leave it alone, play it as it is, let it
> > be what it is. If you want the adjusting screw, buy a newer clarinet.
> >
> > Robert Howe
> >
> >
> > Roger Garrett wrote:
> > >
> > > I believe that Bill's description is accurate....however, a good
> > > technician can add this feature for very little money.
> > >
> > > Roger Garrett
> > > IWU
> > >
> > > On Mon, 13 Apr 1998, Bill Hausmann wrote:
> > >
> > > > At 09:46 AM 4/13/98 -0500, you wrote:
> > > > >Ok, I have received the Buffet clainet with serial number 555. The
> > > > >wood is in good condition - no discernible cracks or evidence of
> > > > >crack repair.
> > > >
> > > > According to the serial number list on Sneezy, this instrument (#555 with
> > > > no letter) dates from 1928! It probably predates the now-standard screw
> > > > adjustment on the Ab key. You just had to be precise with the cork and pads.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
> > > > 451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
> > > > Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
> > > > ICQ UIN 4862265
> > > >
> > > > If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.
> > > >
> >

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org