Klarinet Archive - Posting 000307.txt from 2003/09

From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] C clarinet intonation problems
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 19:27:23 -0400

Nancy Buckman writes:

> I have played the Leblanc and Selmer C clarinets. I have never had good
> luck (musically) with any Selmer instrument. Not to say they aren't
> good quality, they don't play well for me.

I find myself being unable to understand this assertion. Nancy says on
one hand that the Selmer instruments are of good quality. But then she
goes ahead to suggest that they don't play well for her. And as a
consequence of this, she avoids purchasing one.

Nancy, such a statement demonstrates a patent bias but without a reason
for the bias. While I don't care what you play or what you buy, there
should be some rational reason supporting a decision to do or not do
something. The statement that "they don't play well for me," leaves me
absolutely puzzled about what you mean.

It can't be intonation, because you say that they are good quality
instruments (though you say it in an upside down way). It can't be the
manufacturing for the same reason, or the key mechanisms, or any of the
traditional things that might prevent you from find the instrument
attractive. In effect, you do not deny the quality of the instrument but
refuse to buy one even in the face of your alleged respect for it.

So the conclusion I can come to is that you are biased (which you
certainly are allowed to be), but refuse to admit it. On the contrary
you give a left handed compliment to the Selmer instruments and then
make a completely incomprehensible statement about being unable to play one.

And I'm not picking on Selmer. I'd feel the same way if you said the
same thing about any clarinet.

I suspect that what you are really saying is, "Selmer clarinets are not
the top line and I wouldn't be caught dead playing one of them," but you
say in such a way that you cannot be criticized for your bias.

I once played with a great clarinetist who asked me for a reed. I gave
him a VanDoren 5 and he put it on and played fantastically with it.
Then he took it off and gave it back to me. When I asked him way, he
said, "I just can't play VanDorens."

That's you in spades.

Dan Leeson

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**Dan Leeson **
**leeson0@-----.net **
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