Klarinet Archive - Posting 000575.txt from 2002/07

From: William Edinger <wde2@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] strange keywork
Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2002 15:39:09 -0400

Another question about Albert clarinets. On mine (and I believe almost
all Alberts), there is a touchpad tangentially attached to the top ring
key just below it which looks essentially the same as the one on the
next-lower ring key of a modern saxophone (if I recall correctly), and
which on the sax is used to do a one-handed Bb (my sax days are long
behind me, but if you play sax, you know what I mean). The trouble is,
I can't figure out why it's there on the Albert clarinet, and of the
three fingering charts I have, none gives a use for it, though all show
it on the diagram. Anyone have any clues?
Also along these lines, I have a 1914 Buffet A Boehm clarinet that has a
very unusual 3rd-finger left hand key (C/G): it has a padded ring, i.e.
like on an open-hole flute. I've never seen this on any other clarinet
(not that I'm very experienced), and I'm wondering why it's there at
all. It even has an adjustment screw. Any insights into this type of
keywork would also be appreciated.

These older instruments are really fascinating, and make me want to take
a closer look at some that are REALLY old.

Bill Edinger

--
Music and wine are one.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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