Klarinet Archive - Posting 000156.txt from 2002/04

From: Robyn Brown <rjbrown@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Just for curiosity's sake....
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 16:17:00 -0500

Hi list,

Recently I've gained access to several books about the clarinet which I've
been reading with great interest. I've really enjoyed learning about the
acoustics and history of the clarinet. In the book I'm currently reading,
"Clarinet" by Jack Brymer, he makes mention of a clarinet designed by
William Stubbins that used an "S.K. mechanism" to improve the quality of
the throat Bb. The mechanism puts two holes on the back of the clarinet:
one high up to be the speaker key, and a lower, larger hole to be used for
the Bb. This seems to me to be an ingenious idea, and in the picture it
looks like there is not even a need to learn a new fingering for this
note. However, seeing as how the book has a copyright of 1976, this seems
to be a relatively old idea. So, I'm curious, what ever happened to Mr.
Stubbins' clarinet design? Does anyone make a clarinet these days with
that mechanism? And if not, why not? It seems to me that it would solve
many problems of voicing that Bb. Any enlightenment?

Thanks,

Robyn

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