Klarinet Archive - Posting 000050.txt from 2007/11

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevin.fay.home@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Legere reeds for alto clarinet?
Date: Tue, 06 Nov 2007 23:35:35 -0500

Noel Taylor riposted:

<<<This is quite funny, Kevin, but 'the alto clarinet was invented in 1810
by the German clarinetist and instrument maker Iwan Muler' - or August
Grenser - (so I read) and Adolph hadn't quite got round to being born.>>>

I have no idea what Messrs. Muler or Grenser invented, but it was not the
modern alto clarinet. It's possible that they were makers of basset
clarinets pitched in an odd key. They certainly did not produce the modern
wide-bore alto clarinet.

FWIW, the modern bass clarinet *was* invented - by Adophe Sax. Until his
invention ~1830 or so, bass clarinets were generally serpentine, and not
very good.

Even we clarinet players owe a lot to him.

kjf

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