Klarinet Archive - Posting 000466.txt from 2002/04

From: Rick Campbell <ricksax@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Octave repeaters vs. Twelfth repeaters
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 23:51:45 -0400

As a good saxophonist, weak clarinetist, and sometime bassoonist, the
unique feature that divides us on the issue of "woodwinds" must be that
only, ONLY, the clarinet fails to repeat on the octave, a damnable
deficiency in my mind. To my knowledge, all other woodwinds (even the
ocarina and taragoto) do. That places terrible demands on the
clarinetist, but not enough to justify such a rejection of all other
instruments "woodwind". Someday there will be an improved clarinet which
is easier to play, and more popular, but only after the "I learned the
Boehm system and so must you" academy are gone. Have you ever asked
yourself why there has not been a hugely popular clarinetist since Benny
Goodman and Artie Shaw? Just think what a standard L4 Eb key would do
for ease of playing. Or roller keys on R4 Eb/C. Or an improved throat Bb
with some of the more complex linkage of the saxophone's two vents. Or
even more closed hole clarinets (I hear the flute guys do that). These
things are not insurmountable, and would be relatively cheap in mass
production. Yes, in 1800, hand manufacturing cost was a major concern,
but in the days of $3000 clarinets, shouldn't we have advances? Why must
we insist that the instrument remain difficult to play. After all, by
that logic, we should all be playing the 13 key instrument, or perhaps
the 6 key. Much more demanding! Are we masochists?
Rick Campbell

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