Klarinet Archive - Posting 000831.txt from 2000/12

From: Bernard Hunt <bernie@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] Information on Henri Bok?
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000 04:29:33 -0500

Looks like I will be adding my voice to the collection saying that Henri
is a really nice guy. I've met him a couple of times now, and it is always
a pleasure to chat with him, and hear him play.

> An ordinary set-up, interesting only because of the bell. According the
> notes, he plays a Selmer 25/II bass, fitted with a Pomarico crystal mp, a BG
> Tradition ligature, and uses Marca reeds. The oddity is the Rossi wooden
> bell. I presume this is a custom job, and not part of Luis Rossi's line of
> standard equipment?

I believe so. He used to have one made by Daniel Bangham before that. I have
a feeling that he still uses a bore extension which places the low C on the
"body" of the instrument, rather than the bell, which Daniel made for him.
He's also had the neck of his instrument gold plated, and also uses a
modified Selmer mouthpiece sometimes. The final oddity I am aware of is
a Heath Robinson contraption which looks a bit like a sink plunger. This
attaches to the thumb rest, or one of the sling points, and the "plunger"
end rests against his stomach. This helps to hold the instrument in position
when he's playing.

> In any case...IS the method book readily available? At one point it was out
> of print and coming back into circulation, but I've heard nothing more. It

He is/was working on a revised edition, which should include a CD of examples.
I don't know if it's available yet. I'm sure he will be happy to talk to you
about it on email, and he also has a web site, although I don't know if
it's up to date. http://home-1.worldonline.nl/~henribok/

I would imagine that you should also be able to get hold of his recent CD
of music for bass clarinet and piano, which is on the Clarinet Classics
label.
(I guess CC discs are distributed in the US).

Regards,
Bernie

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