Klarinet Archive - Posting 000721.txt from 2001/10

From: "Heinemann, Stephen" <sjh@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Patricola Instruments
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 10:40:56 -0400

Kelly et al.,

> My Patricola played a little funny when I first tried
> it. The instrument comes with 2 barrels, and you can
> specify what lengths. Mine came with a 40 and 42
> length barrel, and I found when I tried the 41 (mm)
> barrel, the throat tunings and color evened out. I
> think there is a lot of inconsistencies with their
> barrels in general, as in other manufacturers as well.
> Does the Eb have 2 barrels with it you can choose
> from?
>
Yes, a 41 and a 42. I used the 42 because, with the 41, the throat and
chalumeau were unacceptably sharp rather than just annoyingly sharp. The
altissimo (or, I guess with the Eb, sopranissimo) register, especially E and
F, was about equally flat with both barrels, which is why I had to finesse
the fingerings. (These inconsistencies make me think that it's a problem
with this particular instrument and not the brand as a whole; there's also
the infinitesimal possibility that the player had something to do with it.)
I did like the key layout as described in Mr. Arrington's post, but, all
things being equal, I'd rather fight the keys than the tuning -- a much
easier battle to win.

> You also might want to try to turn the barrel
> around until it works for you (as mentioned on the
> list earlier this past week.)
>
I tried that, and narrow end of the barrel wouldn't fit on the body and the
mouthpiece rattled around in the wide end. Then I realized that the barrel
should be rotated instead, which makes acoustic sense but conflicts with the
anal-retentive school of clarinet playing which requires that the
manufacturer's labels all line up properly.

Actually, I forgot about that trick. I'll give it a shot.

I plan to buy my own instrument soon. I haven't yet because I hadn't done
enough Eb playing to warrant it, but that's changed. I just know that the
day after I buy whatever brand I buy, Buffet will come out with a Greenline
Eb.

Steve Heinemann
Bradley University

****************************
Dr. Stephen Heinemann
Associate Professor of Music
Theory/Composition/Clarinet
Bradley University
Peoria, IL 61625
(309)677-2603
sjh@-----.edu
****************************

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