Klarinet Archive - Posting 000244.txt from 2004/01

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] A golden opportunity for KLARINET
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 18:51:45 -0500

At 04:53 PM 1/7/2004 -0800, Dan Leeson wrote:
>I think that one of the most valuable subjects discussed on this list on
>and off over the past 10 years deals with both why there are
>multiply-pitched clarinets, and the consequence of this phenomeon,
>something shared by no other instrument in the wind choir. It has enabled
>all of us to rethink the function and purpose of C clarinets, for example,
>and better place each instrument in its proper perspective.
>
>Every clarintist on this list should, if asked, be able to give a lucid
>explanation about why there are clarinets in A, B-flat, and how this
>phonomenon came about.
>
>Now it seems to mee that a subject that has been tragically neglected is
>one that address how the Albert system clarinet was effectively superceded
>in America (and probably a lot more countries), and how and why this
>phonomenon occurred. It is a period of clarinet history that I lived
>through and I haven't the vaguest idea what happened.
>
>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?

I can't cite the reference, but I am sure I read somewhere that many of the
old jazz players like Noone and Fazola and the like originally played
Albert system because, with the Boehm system coming to dominate the market,
old Albert clarinets were available CHEAP. Later they stuck with what they
were comfortable with, and since it was working, who's to argue? I believe
Jimmy Dorsey played an Albert clarinet, too.

I have no explanation for the rise of Boehm popularity, though, other that
what seems to me to be unquestionable ergonomic superiority. I have long
fingers, but the Albert feels very uncomfortable to me, not unlike oboe,
with too-wide spacing between fingers, particularly on the lower joint.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org