Klarinet Archive - Posting 000087.txt from 2002/05

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <lgbuick@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Rossi clarinets & [Backun] barrels
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 13:23:00 -0400

Greetings -

Time to delurk after a few years of "just listening"! (With apologies
for contributing "post mortem" to an expired thread)

As Morrie Backun mentioned, I play Rossi clarinets and just acquired
a set of Backun barrels for them. I've been playing Rossis
exclusively for almost twelve years now - my A is no. 22, from his
first year or two of production, my Bb from 1994. They are English
(huge) bore, the A in Honduran rosewood, the Bb in cocobolo. I had
always assumed that it would be pointless to try other barrels for
them because of the different bore, but as it turned out I was able
to find one for each with minimal modification. They have certainly
helped me get closer to the sound I want - darker, more even, and
especially more focused (while I play "English" bore, my ideal of
sound is far from "that English sound" (see previous years'
discussion of Emma Johnson, Janet Hilton, et al)).

The barrel lengths on my clarinets are close to "normal" - about 66mm
for Bb, 68 for A. I didn't know Luis was now making his barrels so
short, (someone mentioned 61.5 I think), obviously a 64 or 65 mm is
not going to work as a replacement but Morrie would certainly be able
to make one in any length, with his standard taper or any custom bore.

I also had the good fortune to be there while two of the Vancouver
Symphony players were there trying barrels, including Eb barrels, so
I could hear the difference they make in more mainstream setups. (Wes
Foster, the principal player, has been involved in the whole
development process as you can read on Morrie's website.) The
differences range from subtle to remarkable (less than different
mouthpieces, but still clearly audible) and to my ear a definite
improvement.

Dan, presumably you think we're all wasting our time - all I can say
is, I invite you to go visit Morrie in Vancouver and listen for
yourself. And come to Newfoundland and hear our clarinet quartet -
we'll all be playing them next year!
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Lorne G Buick Principal Clarinet, Newfoundland Symphony
lgbuick@-----. John's, Newfoundland

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