Klarinet Archive - Posting 000440.txt from 1998/08

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Articulated G#
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 23:23:22 -0400

At 06:34 PM 8/13/98, Lee Hickling wrote:
>This thread got me thinking ... the articulated G# on saxophones is one of
>the few clear advantages the sax has over the clarinet in terms of
>mechanism. Otherwise, they are quite lacking in alternate fingerings,
>compared to the Boehm system and its offspring. Am I correct in thinking
>that the mechanism Adolphe Sax devised is still in use? If so, why hasn't
>the sax evolved as the clarinet has?
>
>I can't imagine how to put rings on the thing, but couldn't a few alternate
>little-finger keys have been added, making those clumsy rollers
>unnecessary? After all, there are plateau clarinets without open holes.
>I've been looking for a good used one for some time.
>
You'd be surprised how much development there has been. The rollers are
one of the major improvements! The basic overall design of today's
saxophones would be easily recognized by Adolphe Sax. Still, when Selmer
came out with the Balanced Action sax in the mid-1930's, it revolutionized
sax design. All current models by all manufacturers follow that basic
pattern now. Earlier designs were, at least to me, much more awkward. Try
it yourself: compare a Bundy (NOT a Bundy II, but the older model, based
on the old Bueschers) or an old Conn to any Yamaha or a Selmer Paris model,
especially as regards the left pinkie table keys. Ergonomically and
intonationally, saxes have changed a lot. Also, front F keys and high F#
keys have been added, and low A's to bari saxes (mostly). The reason these
changes have not been as dramatic as the evolution of the clarinet is that
the instrument was much more fully developed from the beginning, taking
advantage of what had been learned before on, for example, clarinet.

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.

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