Klarinet Archive - Posting 000339.txt from 2006/10

From: "Bruce M" <bmcgar@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Leblanc/ Backun clarinets
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:56:06 -0500


From Nancy's description, it sounds more as if she's hit on a spectacular
horn/mouthpiece/reed combination than an incredible instrument. At least
for me, the points she stresses that are advantages for the Leblanc horn
have been more related to mouthpiece/reed/lig combination, given a decent
instrument to play them with.

I have to wonder, given the points that she stresses (ease of attack,
ability to voice notes at low dynamic levels) if the mouthpiece and reed
aren't influencing things as much or more than the rest of the clarinet, and
if a different mouthpiece might give not-so-sublime results.

Another example of the whole setup being more than the sum of its parts?

Just playing Devi's Advocate again. What do I know? I haven't played the
Backun Leblanc.

B.

>From: "Blake Arrington" <klarinetteman@-----.com>
>Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: RE: [kl] Leblanc/ Backun clarinets
>Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2006 14:59:22 -0500
>
>Nancy,
>
>Where did you try them in New York? Was there a conference or something?
>
>Thanks,
>
>JBA
>
>
>>From: Nancy Buckman <eefer@-----.net>
>>Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
>>To: klarinet@-----.org
>>Subject: RE: [kl] Leblanc/ Backun clarinets
>>Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2006 13:31:16 -0400
>>
>>For the enquiring minds:
>>
>>I apologize. I hit the send key without checking the address. The
>>message was supposed to go directly to Terry. In addition to his request
>>for what I thought was amazing about these instruments, he asked for
>>information on pricing and where he could try them. I was going to give
>>Terry my reasons when I receive the sales information he requested. I
>>sent the original post that I had tried at a time when I didn't have
>>enough time to elaborate. I thought people might like to know that the
>>instruments are forthcoming and that they are everything that has been
>>said they would be. The answers have arrived so I will include them all
>>in this post.
>>
>>What I found so amazing about the new instruments is that they responded
>>to my every request from them. They came out of the cases and were put on
>>the table. No adjustments were made to them. People just picked them up
>>and they all played. I was there for many hours and they played as well
>>at the end of the day as they did when they came out of the cases (after
>>many people had handled them each). And this was true of the cheapest
>>model to the most expensive model. Pitch was excellent from end to end.
>>Response from note to note is even. I could easily make large interval
>>leaps with no difficulty, something I usually am not very good at.
>>Dynamic ability is unequalled in my opinion. I could play so softly
>>without effort that I could only be heard by sitting within a foot or two
>>of the instrument in a quiet room and that was from the lowest note to the
>>highest. Articulation is very easy, with adequate resistance, but not so
>>much as to make the instrument hard to play (just right, as Goldilocks
>>would say). The keywork is exquisite. On the two more expensive models,
>>some of the keywork is adjustable. There is also a C#/G# trill extension
>>which is convenient. And best of all, the key rings fit my small fingers
>>(so my fingers don't fall through the rings). I play a Selmer 10S A
>>clarinet in orchestra and am always having to wear finger cots to keep my
>>fingers from slipping through the rings. I have a latex allergy and this
>>presents a real difficulty for me.
>>
>>So there is my impression of the new clarinets. If it sounds like a sales
>>pitch, well then call it what you will. In my opinion, there is nothing
>>on the market at the moment to equal them, unless you pay a lot more than
>>you will pay for these instruments.
>>
>>The Cadenza model, which is the cheapest, has no competition. At @$1600,
>>nothing Yamaha, Selmer or Buffet has in their lines plays as well, IMO.
>>The Symphonie, at @$3000, I like better than anything any of the big three
>>offer and feel it is the best of the three models for the money. The
>>Legacy, which is the flagship model, is very nice. But at @$6000 I don't
>>feel the differences between the middle and top models warrants such a
>>huge increase in price. As for where to try them, WWBW will have them in
>>stock within a few weeks and you can try them there.
>>
>>Nancy
>>
>>Nancy Buckman
>>Orchestra AACC
>>Opera AACC
>>Baltimore Flute Choir
>>eefer@-----.net
>>
>>
>>
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