Klarinet Archive - Posting 000382.txt from 2000/01

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Old Style Clarinets
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 19:15:54 -0500

Kevin Fay asked several questions about playing old clarinets. I love the
sound of basset clarinets. In fact, I'm starting to think that the Mozart
concerto doesn't sound quite complete when it's played with a modern
clarinet's limited lower range. But I've got a question, too, specifically
about the modern basset clarinet replicas with only two or three keys. I've
never played one. Do those flat, rectangular keys seal imperfectly?

I ask because on the recordings I own of the Mozart concerto on basset
clarinet, the tone on the lowest two notes is different than the tone of the
higher notes. The low notes have a slightly crude, "honking" or trumpet-like
tone, that I associate with a tiny leak. I've heard a (worse!) version of
that tone coming from my old Conn Bb clarinet when the low E got slightly out
of alignment.

It also sounds to me as though the clarinetist blows harder to get that
lowest note, sort of the way some old saxes require a hard "pop" to get the
bottom note or two out. The note comes out slightly on the loud side as a
result. My 1926 bass sax will play the low Bb and B with reasonably normal
tonguing, but I've heard that on some basses from the 1920s, the player has
to bark -- eject the breath forcefully -- and slap-tongue those notes to get
them out. I've tried that bark-and-slap technique and it also creates a
honking sound. I don't mean to exaggerate what I'm hearing on the basset
clarinet, because it's not obvious at all, just something a bit different
than the sound of a modern clarinet.

The performers on these recordings are top-level professionals. Presumably,
these recently-made basset clarinet replicas (or in one case a
commercially-available modern clarinet with a custom-made basset extension
added to it later) are in the best possible condition for these recordings.
Therefore I wonder if that sound is an unavoidable characteristic of these
instruments. Is that why we don't have paddle-shaped keys any more?

Lelia

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