Klarinet Archive - Posting 000795.txt from 1999/12

From: avrahm galper <agalper@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Mollenhauer Boehm Clarinet
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 11:48:34 -0500

Mollenhauer Boehm clarinet

The recent publication of the CLARINET has a picture of a clarinet made
by Mollenhauer according to the principles of Boehm.
It looks very nice. Like a Boehm flute but apparently wasn't very
practical. Only one specimen was made.
I believe that not many clarinet players know what Boehm actually did in
his discovery of the present day flute bearing his name.
There is a booklet published by Dover that has interesting details about
Boehm and his inventions.
It's worthwhile reading. The book is called THE FLUTE AND FLUTE PLAYING
BY THEOBOLD BOEHM.
The part that I would like to bring to the list is what he says about
music, practicing and a host of other things that are of interest to
woodwind players in general.
There is one remark he makes:
"The one who takes care in practicing of every note will be at the end a
good player."

There was one US citizen, James S.Wilkins who studied with Boehm in 1871
for three years. He gave an interesting account of Boehm who was a good
teacher always ready to help and encourage the ambitious student with
advice and assistance. He did it in such a manner to win him admiration
love and respect of those who knew him.
Wilkins illustrated one of Boehm's methods of learning to play by
heart. He, Wilkins, used to go to Boehm's house every morning at 9.A.M.
He said"Boehm would say to me I have a new piece, play it. He would
then give me the tempo.
When I had finished the last page he would turn it up side down and
repeat "play it".
This meant I had to play all I could remember. In this way I was able to
memorize a piece at first reading and it also taught me to read many
bars ahead.By the time I finished my studies with him I had memorized
500 pieces.
Boehm's school of tone stands supreme. With him tone was of first
importance, all the rest became secondary; and while the development of
tone meant drudgery, yet the results compensated for the labor entailed.

--
Avrahm Galper
CLARINET TONE TECHNIQUE AND STACCATO
CLARINET UPBEAT SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS
EINE KLEINE KLEZMER MUSIK
http://www.avrahm-galper.sneezy.org

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