Klarinet Archive - Posting 000085.txt from 2009/10

From: "Keith Bowen" <bowenk@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Antique clarinet length determines diapason?
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:11:06 -0400

Dear Simon

Here is a case study for you on the pitfalls of buying unseen. In a antique
musical instrument shop in Prague today I looked at two clarinets, one 5-key
by Rott of Prague, labeled 1850 and a German system by Karl Hammerschmidt
labeled 1900-1910. Both boxwood, both claimed to be Bb, both are good
makers. I was allowed to play them. The Rott was certainly a good deal
earlier than 1850, was in good condition and played with a nice sound. But
its internal intonation was awful, and it was about a semitone high by
modern pitch. Looking at it more closely, it was one built as a 'corps de
rechange' instrument, and the second joint was very slightly great diameter
than the first, also looked less worn, though the materials were consistent.
My strong suspicion is that it was a composite, possibly of Bb and A or C
pieces de rechange. Nice to look at but not to play. The Hammerschmidt was a
single instrument, woodwork not bad, an alternate Eb/Bb key missing and the
hole plugged, the keys with plating wearing thin and very scratched.
Suspecting band abuse I looked harder and found a stamp, which though I
could not decipher it almost certainly denoted a military band ownership. I
could only get one or two notes out but that was enough to show that it was
about a quarter-tone high, consistent with its band use (they were often
higher pitch) and with its length of about 590 mm, a tad short for a Bb.

I ended up buying neither. I was quite taken by the cutest little A flat
sopranino, which sounded sweet ... but my fingers are just too fat to play
it accurately!

Keith Bowen

-----Original Message-----
From: Simon Aldrich [mailto:simonaldrich@-----.ca]
Sent: 03 October 2009 17:53
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: [kl] Antique clarinet length determines diapason?

Thank you Diego, Doug and Keith for your responses.

From what I understand from your postings it appears the most we can
glean from the length of an antique clarinet is its key (C, Bb, A,
etc) not its diapason.
Is there a quasi-reliable way of guessing an instrument's diapason
from the year of manufacture (knowing the diapason in a particular
year in a particular country) or is this iffy at best?
Or, if the objective is to play at A430 with other A430-pitched
instruments, should one get a replica by one of today's good makers
(ie Stephen Fox) instead of taking shots in the dark at an antique
instrument's diapason?
Is it even wise to buy and play on an instrument (like those found in
the clarinet section of http://www.earlymusicalinstruments.com/) that
is made of a light wood after 200 years of not being played?
Steve Fox's page does not indicate the price of an A430 replica. Does
anyone know that price or the going prices for A430 replicas (in Bb)?

Thanks
------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Aldrich

Clarinet Faculty - McGill University
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre de l'Opera de Montreal
Artistic Director - Jeffery Summer Concerts
Clarinet - Nouvel Ensemble Moderne

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