Klarinet Archive - Posting 000009.txt from 2005/05

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] An item of some historical interest
Date: Sun, 01 May 2005 11:02:49 -0400

At 01:48 PM 4/30/2005 -0700, Dan Leeson wrote:
>... The leader of the Emperor's orchestra was so intrigued by the band's
>wind
>instruments [provided by Charles Burney] that Macartney offered to give them
>to him, but he politely declined. Instead
>
> [he] sent for a couple of painters, who spread the floor with
>a few
> sheets of large paper, placed the clarinets, flutes,
>bassoons and the
> French horns upon them, and then traced with their pencils
>the figures
> of the instruments, measuring all the apertures and noting
>the minutest
> particulars, and when this operation was completed they
>wrote down
> their remarks, and delivered them to their master. I was
>told that his
> intention is to have similar instruments made here by
>Chinese workmen,
> and to fit them to a scale of his own.

Apparently, that is how the Chinese are making band instruments to this
day! ;-)

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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