Klarinet Archive - Posting 000810.txt from 2004/07

From: Georg.Kuehner@-----.de (Georg K=?ISO-8859-1?B?/A==?=hner)
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Measuring sound character
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 06:09:21 -0400


>=20
> How do you know the "difference" perceived is due to materials alone? I
> believe this is what Dan is trying to sort out.

I believe also that the way You treat the material is also essential for th=
e
sound production

> Many additional variables regarding the way a clarinet plays have been
> introduced and discussed in this thread about material. Any or all of the=
se
> variables could/do effect a "difference"....even within a identical
> material.

> Which brings me to this point.
>=20
> Clarinet manufacturers do a fairly amazing job at bringing certain
> consistent elements to a particular brand/model. They do this by controll=
ing
> certain factors involved in the design and manufacture of a clarinet. Eve=
n
> then, as players, we can detect slight (and sometimes not so slight)
> differences between instruments of the same brand/model. (and the same
> material I might add....and even wood from the same tree...right Dan?)(ev=
en
> the same branch of the same tree) Sometimes the differences between
> clarinets of the same brand/model are very "different".

Different is the key word to me.

> I often perform on my Buffet, Greenline clarinets. No one sitting around =
me
> in the Dallas Opera even knows I play a synthetic clarinet. The conductor
> doesn't know. The audience doesn't know. The management doesn't know. The
> player sitting next to me doesn't know. I have Greenlines that play as we=
ll
> or better (in my opinion) than any clarinet that I've ever owned or playe=
d.
> Differences? I could line up the five Bb clarinets that I own and you cou=
ld
> not only listen to...but play them all....and I am very sure that you wou=
ld
> not be able to tell which one was the Greenline. You WOULD be able to tel=
l
> that there is are differences between the instruments. All of the
> instruments. I have selected and maintained these clarinets for different
> reasons over the years...they all play differently and I count on it. All
> are Buffet clarinets. Two R13's, two Festivals and one Greenline. I've
> played many, many clarinets over the years...100's. Most of these were
> played in selection processes for myself or students. All played
> differently...even within the same brand/model.

I'm sorry but I can't play Boehm System :-((which is not important to the
facts You stated!!)

> I've asked Francois Kloc (at Buffet) about this issue of "difference".
> Buffet tries very hard to control elements that almost all players expect=
to
> have in a quality clarinet. For example, good intonation...or perhaps I
> should say controllable intonation. Some of their clarinets "fix" pitch
> better and some allow players flexibility. Players can choose.
> As far as sound quality...Buffet (should say every manufacturer) has an i=
dea
> about how the clarinet should sound. They all try to build that into thei=
r
> clarinets. Players can like it or not. Their concepts are based on many
> years of player input, engineering input, listeners, conductors,
> management....etc., many factors and a lot of tough decisions made by the
> executives go into what a company brings to market. The fact that there a=
re
> differences in sound from clarinet to clarinet within one brand/model isn=
't
> necessarily a bad thing. Manufacturers count on it. How many different
> opinions or ways of playing have we seen expressed on the list? Players w=
ith
> very "different" way of performing....often play the same clarinet...and
> sometimes even use the same mouthpiece and reed. I'm not sure that (even)=
if
> clarinet manufacturers had the material and technology to produce an exac=
t
> duplicate....clarinets produced one after the other all without
> differences....that they would do so. I'm not sure that the manufacturer =
or
> the player (well...the player that liked that particular clarinet would)
> would necessarily benefit.
>=20
> I believe if you had a clarinet with a similar bore....in every way....th=
at
> you wouldn't have any greater differences perceived by a player than you
> would from two identical clarinets made from similar materials. Buffet ha=
s
> demonstrated this pretty darn well with the Greenline clarinet.
>=20
> I think it would be great to have a first rate study done and
> published....but in the end, players are still going to play clarinet aft=
er
> clarinet to find the one that they like best. And the one you like best m=
ay
> not be the one I like best.These clarinets might both be from the same
> factory, the same model, the same people working building them, the same
> material used...and different.
>=20
> Forest Aten

Dear Forest,
You have the possibilty to choose! If You want to choose You=B4ve got to have
some knowledge and experience ... Like You have all the others have learn
.......

Regards Georg

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