Klarinet Archive - Posting 001254.txt from 1998/07

From: Note Staff Unlimited <notestaff@-----.ch>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mozart and the right clarinet
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 05:45:53 -0400

klarinet@-----.org schrieb:

> On Tue, 28 Jul 1998, Note Staff Unlimited wrote:
> > Which gets me onto a hobby horse: why don't clarinet builders supply ONE
> > clarinet in A with TWO lower joints - one normal
> > and one basset version? This would save costs and surely encourage more
> > clarinettists to play (or attempt?) the Mozart on the
> > basset clarinet. The work really gains from it even though there is still some
> > guess work as to the exact right version. Or, at the
> > risk of insulting one or another "short" clarinettist, the work really suffers
> > from the lower register being cut off. Still, I admit, it's
> > better to perform the Mozart on a "short" clarinet than not at all!
>
> David Shifrin's horn is built this way, with the low c extension keys on
> top to be played by pinkies rather than with the thumb. However, the new
> basset clarinets out seem to have design issues in the top joint as well
> that eliminate the possibility of using different lower joints with the
> same upper joints. And, in fact, Shifrin's has a few notes that he must
> compensate for (it was specially made for him out of clarinet parts!).
>
> Roger Garrett
> IWU
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of course, I tend not to think of the problem with the bore as I didn't have any.
The Uebel clarinets have a very straight bore right down to about the low F hole.
When I had the extensions done (by Brian Ackerman) only the last little taper had to
be removed from the bottom. With a French bore with God knows what refined reverse
tapers, etc. etc., I can imagine that problems might turn up. My bassets turned out
great.
I'll be signing off for a few days to go to Ostend for the clarinet course with
Robert Spring, Howard Klug, Guido Six... It's started already but I can't get away
until tonight. Look forward to it!

David Glenn

-------------------------------------------------------------------------