Klarinet Archive - Posting 000594.txt from 2010/09

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevin.fay.home@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Noblet 45 C
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 01:48:25 -0400

Need a little help here.

About a dozen years ago, I was asked to play the C clarinet part to Strauss'
Happy Workshop (scored for clarinet in C, 2 in Bb, basset horn and bass,
perhaps in A). A peek at the part convinced me that transposition was out
of the question - I needed to buy a C clarinet, and fast.

After some telephony and the exercise of my credit card, I became the proud
owner of a Noblet 45. (I didn't have much choice; at that time, it appeared
to be the only model in stock anywhere in the U.S.)

It's actually a fine, sturdy little clarinet, but has some intonation
quirks. It plays pretty well in tune from the altissimo down through the
throat tones - but the chalumeau is quite sharp. For the Strauss this
wasn't much of a problem, as he scored the other four clarinets for the low
notes. My subsequent use has been generally acceptable, since the parts
tend to dwell on the higher end of the horn.

I'm now playing Berlioz' Harold in Italy, which unfortunately (for my little
clarinet) has a fair bit of chalumeau in it. Dan Leeson has beaten the
correct usage of C into me, so I dare not transpose the low parts on Bb. In
order to get the thing in tune, though, at times I have to lip it down so
far that the tone suffers.

Thoughts? I know that W. Grabner makes a specialty C mouthpiece, but his
site states that it's to help the throat tones (which on my horn are just
fine). I've tried my entire drawer full of mouthpieces - while it helps
response to use a slightly smaller tip opening, none of them have helped the
intonation a whit.

I believe that the Noblet 45 is a more cylindrically bored instrument,
without a great deal of undercutting of the tone holes. Would a specialty
barrel help? Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance,

kjf

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