Klarinet Archive - Posting 000545.txt from 2002/01

From: Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.ca>
Subj: [kl] Brand New Barrel Design From Vancouver
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2002 23:20:02 -0500

I have received so much help and enjoyment from Klarinet, that I'm
really glad to be able to pass on some good news to everyone about some
gorgeous sounding and quite innovative barrels being made here in
Vancouver by one of our local creative geniuses, Morrie Backun. Some of
you may know Morrie as a top notch repairman here in Vancouver. His
barrels have a double taper, and are handcrafted from cocabolla,
grenadilla, kingwood and rosewood. I just bought one out of rosewood
(my teacher - principal of the Vancouver Symphony -let me try the
prototype two months ago) and most of the "cream of the crop" Vancouver
clarinetists, including our symphony players and symphony subs are
getting them for their horns. Each one is unique both in looks and in
stain colours, but the bottom line, of course, is the sound - very warm,
sweet, rich, dark, creamy, with a lot of depth, and really opened-up
sound. Morrie's making them for every clarinet except bass clarinet. I
can't say enough good things about them, but I am in no way being
reimbursed by Morrie. I just feel very strongly that we have the start
of a major breakthrough in gorgeous sound happening right here. When I
bought my new Greg Smith mouthpiece at Clarinetfest, it was a huge leap
for me in terms of tone quality, and this is just as much of an upward
leap. I just love my new sound. I think Morrie's going to place an ad
in Clarinet magazine soon, but if you want to contact him beforehand,
his e-mail address is MBack@-----.com

Best wishes to all,

Audrey

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