Klarinet Archive - Posting 000688.txt from 2000/03

From: Bilwright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] 'Quick' barrel.........
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 13:39:22 -0500

Lelia Loban wrote:

It's not always the beginning clarinet player's fault when the high
notes are sharp and the low notes are flat. [....] The typical
clarinets used by beginners tend to play wide twelfths: sharp above the
break and flat below. [....] One of several reasons
professional-quality clarinets cost more is that extra work goes into
the design and construction to reduce this problem.

For the purpose of this conversation, let's ignore the really
crummy, cheapie clarinets.
Suppose I removed all the keywork from my Yamaha plastic YCL-20A
(which most people here describe as a better quality 'student'
instrument), and suppose I did the same with a top-of-the-line
professional wooden clarinet. Then I laid them side-by-side and
carefully measured the length of each instrument, the distances between
holes, and the hole diameters.
Will the distances be within 1 or 2 mm of each other? Or more?
Will I be able to measure any difference at all in the hole diameters
with an ordinary ruler?

And here is a related question: Every time that clarinetists
discuss tone and intonation, they have no choice but to discuss
embouchure, shape of face, diaphragm strength, tongue position and so
forth. *Obviously* I don't mean to dismiss these topics. They are what
makes music what it is -- an art form that transcends math and physics.
But it would be very helpful to have a constant wind source and
reed environment, such that you could compare (with your ears) the
effects of a clarinet's construction. Also, you wouldn't have to deal
with the difference between what the player hears and what the audience
hears -- bone conduction and all the rest of it.
Once again, I do not mean that such a testing device should be the
index for choosing an instrument. But it would be provide extremely
useful information, especially to a player who can't achieve constancy
with his or her own body parts.
Do clarinet manufacturers have such a device? Or does it always
come down to the artist in the back room who puts the instrument to his
or her own lips and renders judgement?

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