Klarinet Archive - Posting 001041.txt from 1999/04

From: Sfdr@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: The Moennig Challenge
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 1999 01:41:29 -0400

In a message dated 4/24/99 1:28:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Sfdr writes:

<< In a message dated 4/23/99 7:23:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
birch@-----.ca writes:

<< Regarding the longer barrels to bring the pitch down to A440, I have no
problems with playing a 64.5mm barrel and lipping it down, save for
slight undrtone problems on the high left hand A, B, C. Though that may
be just because I'm using a cheap crappy old barrel that, otherwise,
works beautifully.

Daaaaaa. The reason that you are getting the undertone is because
your register vent is too long and of the wrong taper. The extra long vent
tube has been installed to compensate for the sharp pitch of the High left
hand A, B, and C that you are having to constantly lip down. The age and
appearance of you barrel has nothing to do with the true problem. Your
barrel is 3.5 mm too short!

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Second, regarding Alvin's statement:

"What is most frustrating for me is that I have witnessed the true
potential of the R-13 clarinet when properly set up to the proven
traditional standards of A-440."

"proven traditional standards of A-440"?!?!?! If they're so proven, why
aren't they standard? That's a pathetically America-centric statement.
It would be nice if there were a World-Wide standard, though there is no
particular reason why A-440 would be any better than A-442 or even 445.

This quote has nothing to do with my pitch preference and an
individual our as an American. The word traditional has to do with the
historical practice of A-440 by Great conductors of the twentieth century
such as Arturo Toscanini, Leopold Stokowski, and Bruno Walter. And they
were European too. Can you believe that?
I think your idea for a world wide pitch standard is great. The only
problem is that you are about 100 years late with your proposal. The first
attempt at international pitch standardization was in Paris France in 1898.
The International Association of Acousticians met there and decided to make
the world wide standard of A 4-35. They met again in London England in 1937
and changed the international pitch standard to A-440 at the request of many
makers and players who were in search of a "more brilliant sound".

In reference to your request for the pitch standard of A-442 and A-445,
I leave you with a quote from The great oboist Marcel Tabuteau. One day when
he gave the tuning A for the Philadelphia Orchestra, one of the violinist
asked him if he could play it a little sharper? He responded by saying, "My
dear boy, Sharpness is never a good substitute for musical intensity"!

______________________

Thirdly, I am thoroughly dismayed to discover that my suspisions about
increased automation in the Buffet clarinet factories were correct. It
is bad enough that there isn't enough good quality wood to go round any
more. Yet, it is only to be expected when Buffet is owned by Rico,
Selmer by Steinway, and Leblanc sold out to Vito and the U.S. (please
correct me if I'm wrong. It is becomming nightmareish.) Those are the
three big makers sold out. Where do I go now when I want to buy my next
horn?

One extra point: The best clarinet I have ever played (and I have played
a few) is my father's 80,000 or so (early 1960s) Buffet R-13. I weighs
almost twice as much as my 430,000 (1997) R-13 Presige, plays much
nicer, and sounds phenomenally better. And that was before he got his
pads replaced for the first time in 35 years. >>

Most great clarinetist of our time preferred R-13 s with serial
number of 100,000 and below. The wood was better and did not crack as often.

Thank you,

Alvin Swiney

Affordable Musiic Co.

P.O.Box 4245

Virginia Beach, VA 23454

757-412-2160 fax 412-2158

E mail sfdr@-----.com

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