 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetplayer21
Date: 2015-07-01 21:37
i dont understand why they did. For the Eb and Bb it makes sense so that you could transpose other clarinets. (D and A respectivly) but why a full boehm A? or more specifically, why put a low Eb on an A? the other changes make sense but i dont see the need with an A.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2015-07-01 23:15
I don't know if this was the original intent but by putting a low Eb on the A it means that low E and more importantly the B a 12th above both issue from a real tonehole and are not "bell" notes.
This has quite a significant effect on eveness of tone quality and improved balance of intonation.
I guess a secondary effect is that (at least on some instruments) the throat Bb can also be played as a clarion overblown low Eb.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2015-07-01 23:41
I've always wondered this myself. I have one (the second I've had). But I think Norman is on the right track -- we may never need that low Eb specifically, but its presence helps out the rest of the range a bit.
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2015-07-01 23:57
Isn't the A clarinet an historical curiosity, i.e., a device originally created when clarinets were built in multiple keys because today's modern keywork, which allows chromatic playing, didn't exist. Since composers, like Mozart, e.g., chose to write for A clarinet, modern manufacturers create instruments to facilitate music written for A clarinet. Yes, we could play everything on a Bb or a C or an E clarinet but we'd have to do a lot of transposing. Thus we avoid the plight of French Horn players who have to mentally transpose much of the classical repertoire from a whole bunch of different keys. Music publishers could republish everything originally scored for A to Bb clarinet - I'm still waiting. And, of course, many - perhaps most, A clarinets don't have a (written) Eb key; they just go down to written E
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-07-02 01:59
Attachment: selmerseries9clarinets 001.JPG (702k)
Having the low Eb on a full Boehm A clarinet gives it the same lowest note as a viola (Concert C) so that makes it very useful for playing viola transcriptions that use the open low C note.
I wonder if full Boehm D clarinets were ever made? I've got full Boehm A, Bb and Eb clarinets and know Selmer made full Boehm C clarinets, but to complete their lineup, full Boehm D clarinets will fill that gap - their lowest note sounding F natural.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarinetplayer21
Date: 2015-07-02 02:41
wow you sure love full boehms. they are the best after all. what brand are the ones in the picture? also, Do you know where i could get a full boehm Eb? possibly new? also. even though they are very rare you cant forget the Ab clarinet!
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Author: Ralph
Date: 2015-07-02 16:20
Chris - I was browsing the Selmer Paris website and found a brochure describing their clarinet family. Believe it or not, there is a picture of a D clarinet in Full Boehm disguise. There is hope for your collection !!
Ralph
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Author: Ralph
Date: 2015-07-02 16:21
Chris - I was browsing the Selmer Paris website and found a brochure describing their clarinet family. Believe it or not, there is a picture of a D clarinet in Full Boehm disguise. There is hope for your collection !!
Ralph
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-07-02 17:20
Dominic - I found the full Boehm Eb purely by chance on 'the famous auction site that nobody shall name' in Hungary, so had to have it as I use the gadgets a lot on my Bb/A full Boehms and often opened or held the C#/G# key down on my plain Buffet Eb which caused some problems. So now I can use the same fingerings and especially the forked Eb/Bb which I also use a lot.
My full Boehms are all Selmers - I had a Leblanc LL full Boehm but sold that recently to a former colleague of mine who is really enjoying it. I do also have a Buffet full Boehm Bb clarinet, but that's more of a curiosity if anything.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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