Klarinet Archive - Posting 000170.txt from 2002/09

From: w8wright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Period instruments --- were any of them "better" ?
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 03:24:49 -0400

Now that subscribers have returned from their summer activities, I hope
that I am forgiven for re-posting a question.

(Abandoned features in the piano family and sarrusaphones have already
been mentioned. Now I'd like to re-ask the question with special
emphasis on chalumeaus and basset horns and other early members of the
clarinet family.)

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0<><><> Audrey=A0Travis wrote:
Questions would also be raised regarding why some of these [period]
instruments [which Audrey saw this summer in a Paris museum] died out
and what kinds of instrumental changes might be created in the future.

<><> I wrote:
A related question is: While many period instruments have disappeared
for good reason (didn't play well, were too expensive or cumbersome,
couldn't be maintained easily, etc), did any of them have advantages
that modern instruments lack? On balance, I'm sure that modern
instruments are better suited to our times; but have we sacrificed any
desirable qualities in the process? [Opinions vary, of course, but I
consider Stadler's bulbous bell to be a possible example. Are there
others?]

Thank you,
Bill