Klarinet Archive - Posting 001069.txt from 2000/10

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Sharp Clarion A, B & C "The Cure"
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 13:44:16 -0400

Walter's observations on Alvin's Response to Clark's commentary on Alvin's
original post:

<< A.S. The A clarinet is longer than the Bb Clarinet. Therefore the barrel
of
the A should be longer than the barrel of the Bb clarinet. However the
barrel of the A clarinet is normally 65 mm in length as compared to the Bb
clarinet which of normally 66 or 67 mm in length. This illogically designed
short barrel is just one of the many problems contributing to the flawed
intonation of the A clarinet.
Prior to World War ll, Buffet A clarinets were designed quite
differently. The instruments were tuned to play at A440 with a 67 mm barrel.

This added length allowed the makers to have more room for tuning the throat
tones and the (now sharp) High A, B, and C. I said that the A, B, and C are
in tune and the other notes are flat. When you add the correct barrel, 66
or
67 mm, those 3 notes are in are in tune. However the other notes of the
clarinet become flatter in pitch.>>

Walter says: I have long suspected that the "A" clarinet design, that we use
today is flawed, and treats the "A" as a mere adjunct to the Bb.

Alvin also said: "Try an Extra small reverse bore Moennig barrel to
compensate for the large backbore of your mouthpiece. The top of the
barrel controls the upper register and the lower section helps the throat
tones. The taper design is critical in the resolution of your tuning
problem."

Clark replies: Yes this will help, but you may not like the way the
instrument sounds, plus the extra small taper will raise the pitch of your
throat tones , which may or may not be desireable.

Walter observes: In resolving my pitch discrepancies, I did come up with the
same solution. A small reverse (conical) Moennig style bore for my barrel.
This worked well in playing with the string quartet and in the very forgiving
hall that we performed in.

I tried the same setup last night with the orchestra in our concert hall,
and, as Clark predicts, did not like the Sound. Too small for even a Brahms
symphony. Since we as a group tend to crowd the pitch, the intonation problem
was not as acute (lamentably).

Alvin says: Long register tubes found on new A clarinets can caused the
High A, B,
and C to crack or gurgle when played pianissimo. The hour glass shaped tube
that Hans Moennig designed for Robert Marcellus works quite well when
balancing the timbre of the throat tones and lower Pitch of the Left hand
notes.

Walter says: Alvin this is interesting information. How does one go about
getting an hour glass shaped register tube? Do you do this modification?

Alvin also states: The cubic volume of the mouthpiece bore can also destroy
the pitch consistency of the clarinet's left hand notes. Like the barrel,
If the
mouthpiece is too large, the player is asking for pitch problems. Ideally
the
A clarinet mouthpiece should be longer and smaller than the Bb Mouthpiece.
I
find that it is major endeavor just to get my customers to use different
barrels on the two clarinets. >>

Walter says: I don't know any players out there who are willing to use
different mouthpieces from Bb to A, which of course in an orchestral setting
means two reeds and two different ligatures as well.

Does anybody out there do this?

I have also heard that Guy Chadash can make a barrel that can possibly work
well on both Bb and A, improving both tone and pitch. Does anyone have hard
information on this?

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com

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