Klarinet Archive - Posting 000727.txt from 2002/10

From: "WILLIAM SEMPLE" <wsemple@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] introduction
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 23:38:30 -0500

I would like to introduce myself to this group. I have played clarinet since
I was 12 -- I am 56 now, but for several years did not play because of a
house fire that destroyed all of my instruments -- collected directly and
inherited from my father.

My father was an avid player -- and served as Pres of te Detroit Symphony
Orchestra for twenty years. He was good friends with two clarinet players of
some note: Paul Schaller, the DSO principal, and Benny Goodman. Dad died in
1988.

I have studied with John Yeh of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and with John
Colbert, who graduated from the New England Conservatory and studied with
Harold Wright. So I think it is fair to say I know something about the
instrument.

In getting myself back into shape again, I ran into some good luck. I had so
many clarinets floating around before the fire that I lent one to my
brother's son, who was playing in his school band. It was a 1958 Buffet Bb
R-13, which I have since learned was played by Schaller in the DSO for
twenty years from 1956 to 1978, until he switched to a pair of Prestige
models.

I now have two and a half sets: a pair built pre R. Caree (around 1949),
having a substantially larger bores; Schaller's instrument; and a pair of
R-13's I bought over the past five years.

I really like these instruments, and wonder what all of the ruckus is about
concerning the "fancier" models. Seems to me these R-13's sound just fine
and are really responsive.

I use a couple of set-ups. I play a Van Doren 5RVLyre with 3.5 and 4 V-12
Van Dorens, and an honest injun Chedeville that I am still having problems
fitting reeds to.
I love the wood in the V-12s. I usually wind up doing some shaping and
sanding of the backs, but only touch ups, and have gotten some wonderfully
consistent results.

I play classical, swing, and dixie.

I look forward to following the listserve.

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