Klarinet Archive - Posting 000707.txt from 2000/08

From: "Kloc, Francois" <Francois.Kloc@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Plastic vs. Wood
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 14:36:52 -0400

I'm genuinely disappointed. When I saw that Francois Kloc was joining
the discussion of wood vs. other materials (despite the title of wood
vs. plastic which minimizes the discussion), I was very pleased because
where could one find a more authoritative voice on the matter of
materials. But as I eagerly read his text, my disappointment became
palpable for his entire argument, as I read and re-read, consists
entirely of statements that say nothing more than "I think that ..." or
"I do not think that ..."

Hi Daniel,

I am sorry if I disappointed you the fact that I use I think or I don't
think is just that I don't know any other formula to expess myself, but
I am open to suggestions. I don't like to use other people "said" to try
to make a point. I hope when I use those terms I don't sound "cocky" it
is not my intention. Again my sincere apologies if I disapointed you. Do
not forget French are not perfect :-)

M. Kloc brings up oboes and bassoons as a demonstration of the broad use
of wood -- but neglects to mention flutes where wood has been
effectively abandoned -- forgetting that a first-class line of oboes are
made with one joint plastic and one joint wood. He also adds pianos
which is irrelevant to the discussion since the piano is a percussion
instrument with a vibrating sounding board. Thus to compare its medium
of manufacture and sound production with a clarinet is to compare a
chicken to a carrot because they are both food.

I thought I talked about flutes. I said that I was seeing more and more
wooden flutes when I go visit Symphony orchestras and professor. As a
matter of fact Jacques Zoon ( spelling?)Principal flute with the Boston
Symphony plays a wood flute. As far as me using piano as an example I
guess I made another mistake. Well the fact is and my point was that
wood vibrates and you told it yourself as well. either it is percussion
or woodwind instrument it is still wood and most of the time the wwod
used for piano sounding board is maple as well as bassoon is made out of
maple ( the german system) french system basson is made out of
pallissandre. I like both chicken and carrot :-) For the fact that you
are saying I forgot to mention that a first-class compagny I think you
are talking about Loree is using plastic top joint I didn't forgot I
said it is the choice of the musicians if they think they sound better
with plastic instrument it is their choice and people should respect
this and not try to find a reason to make them feel they are not like
everybody else.

Musically Yours

Francois Kloc
Manager of Woodwinds North America
Boosey & Hawkes Musical Instruments Inc.

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