 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2005-09-03 21:23
A Labor Day weekend story, of no great consequence:
I have a 21xxx series Buffet beautifully restored by John Butler, as well as the original mouthpiece furnished with the clarinet, artistically refaced by Vytas Krass. In fact, the whole package I inherited was a tiny "time capsule" from 1936, with the original case, ligature, reed case, and reeds. Playing that instrument with its original mouthpiece is an incredible joy. (No, I do not use the original reeds ![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif) ).
Through the years, I have noticed that there are those who gravitate toward the newest equipment (most often earnest students on a professional track) and those, like myself, who seem unable to break a questionable fascination with the vintage. As if the old wood had some secrets to tell, or the spirit of Charles Draper or Reginald Kell waited inside. Of course they do not, and the old stuff presents the same challenges, and some different ones, as modern equipment. Yes, I do believe that one month on one clarinet and it will sound the same as any other clarinet you have ever played. Yet, in the end, there is room for a comment or two on the small, plangent, romantic throat of a really old Buffet. They sound like Edith Piaf rather than Dawn Upshaw. Yes, there is something different, old and lovely, melancholy and bright.
Happy Labor Day weekend - despite the wrenching news from Louisiana - to everyone, and happy playing, whatever instrument - whatever century - you are on.
Enjoy.
Bill.
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Author: bryris
Date: 2005-09-03 21:28
I am looking forward to sending my Buffet R-13 to John Butler for a full restoration as well. Its not quite that old, 1981. It's being shipped to him in 2 weeks. Can't wait to get it back and into my hands.
Good things are worth waiting for.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-09-03 21:41
I prefer older instruments as there seems to be more care taken and sense of pride in making them, and I don't see a lot of that in the majority of new instruments.
It's the personal touches that count, like the mounters' initials and nicely filed keywork in places that can't normally be seen, hand-carved recesses to fit ring key arms etc. that seems to be lost in this age by companies that are run by accountants, cutting back on workmanship but still commanding high prices for a far inferior product.
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Author: joannew
Date: 2005-09-04 09:12
Going back even further, I have recently acquired two lovely boxwood & ivory clarinets with 6 brass keys, from the 1820s or thereabouts. Beautiful instruments! The C is by G. Noblet, with a funny sunshine-happy-face logo on each section, while the B flat is anonymous, but identical in construction. I have spent a lot of time with the B flat over the summer, and starting to get it to sound like a musical instrument, at last - quite a challenge! The sound is lovely & light, like the instrument itself, almost recorder-ish on the forked notes. The C I don't know so well as I don't have a really useable mouthpiece for it, but next month I will visit Ed Pillinger to have appropriate mouthpieces built for both instruments, which should be a big improvement. I've been working on Crusell's quartets, which would have been written for similar instruments. It's really quite amazing to imagine how many clarinettists have enjoyed these instruments, and what music they have made over the years.
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