Klarinet Archive - Posting 000593.txt from 2001/10
From: rgarrett@-----.edu Subj: RE: [kl] Real Questions Here Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 10:41:27 -0400
>Hence my current fascination with barrels. This is something we as
>clarinet players have ignored for years, except those lucky enough to work
>with a master like Moennig.
And Pyne, and Robert Scott, and Fobes, and Springer, and Chadash,
and........well, you get the idea!
I think barrel interest has been around for at least a quarter of a
century. It isn't a new thing. There are many of us who have been
teaching for nearly that long or longer who have been trying out barrels
offered by those listed above (and others) and sharing with our
students. I remember when I purchased my first Buffet, a clarinet teacher
in Portland, OR - Stan George (what a great guy!) was using a reamer on
every barrel that came through the store. Those horns really played great!
Still - while barrels make the biggest difference in pitch - and are
helpful in "tweaking" a basic tone (higher partials, lower partials,
masking one or both, etc.), there is also a lot to be said for taking your
current barrel and turning it 1/8th of a turn around until you find a
position that it seems to work/sound/tune best. This also works with the
bell. Is this new information? No - but it is information that can be
shared and younger players on the list might not know that stuff. You
don't always have to buy a new bell or barrel - often the one that was
designed for the instrument works best.
I did try Jim Pyne's barrels - both with him at a Clarinet Fest and with a
student who brought several different brands to her lesson in an attempt to
play better in tune in some areas of the horn. It was a thoroughly fun
lesson - and somewhat frustrating too. I stuck with my Chadash set of
barrels - primarily because the tuning on them is right where I want them
to be. The sound has a bit of edge/higher partials - but I don't mind for
orchestral work. My set of Robert Scott barrels (when I say set, I mean
64, 65, and 66 mm length) play beautifully in tune also - and they are made
from synthetic material. They provide a warmer, lower partials type tone
for me - and I like them for chamber music and recording or solo
work. There is also a fellow in Canada right now - can't recall his name -
who makes barrels out of rosewood - and they are very, very nice too.
But - barrels are expensive. The Scott are the least expensive I have
found - and I like them. If you are planning to start out hunting and want
to aquire some - I would start with his. He also makes them for Eb and D
clarinets - for which I have one for each. They are kind of neato too.
Best,
Roger Garrett
Illinois Wesleyan University
PO Box 2900
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
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