Klarinet Archive - Posting 000211.txt from 2004/01

From: Roger Shilcock <roger.shilcock@-----.oxford.ac.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] American move to the Boehm system
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 04:01:04 -0500

Iwan Muller - Albert's technical precursor - claimed *his*
clarinets were "omnitonique", too...
Roger S.

In message <a05100301bc226cb71329@-----.224.117.54]> klarinet@-----.org writes:
> <<Can you visualized the Boehm system clarinet being relaced in
> America over a period of the next 25-50 years? I find it hard to
> believe that such a thing could happen, but it certainly did happen
> to the Albert system clarinet and I have no idea why.
>
> I'm curious about how how, when, why, and where this happened. What
> did we gain? What did we lose? -- Dan Leeson>>
>
> First, it important to inderstand that the Boehm system is a French
> development first manufactured by Buffet.
>
> The Germans tried to perfect the Simple System (Albert) 13 key
> clarinet by keeping the same fingering in the later Wurlitzer and
> Oehler systems. The Oehler has more tone holes, and some complex
> linkages, but is very rational with only 4 roller pinky keys. So
> today's German or Viennese clarinetist playing the Oehler could
> easily play an Albert, whereas we Boehm players have an awful time
> adapting.
>
> Some guesses about the cause for the change to Boehm:
>
> 1. American clarinet instruction was probably more strongly
> influenced by the French academies.
>
> 2. Albert system Bb clarinets require a real right hand stretch to
> cover the non-ringed tone holes, which makes them even more difficult
> for young beginners. Tough even for my adult hands. Students were
> often started on an Eb or C clarinet years ago.
>
> 3. Perhaps, too, there was an element of planned obsolescence?
> Everyone had to buy a new clarinet, which must have been great for
> sales. Imagine Prof. Harold Hill hawking the new instrument across
> the heartland.
>
> 4. Another claimed advantage was that Boehm clarinets were truly
> chromatic, and could play comfortably in sharp keys, thus,
> eliminating the need for the A clarinet (with a full Boehm model).
>
> A great question. I wonder if someone has written a doctoral thesis on this?
>
> --
> Rick Campbell
> Rick Campbell, Creative
> Portland, OR USA
> 503-234-9440
>
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>
>

--
A scholar is just a library's way of making another library.
-- Daniel Dennett ("Consciousness explained")

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