 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Anthea
Date: 1999-11-17 22:12
I'm currently studying on new or unusual clarinet technology as part of a work on recent and future clarinet history. This could include electronic clarinets, microtonal ones or even simple advances to make playing easier, tone better etc. I'd also like to hear from anyone who has or knows about older clarinets that use systems that have pretty much died out eg unsual key work weird pitches anything really.
Thanks for your help.
Anthea
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Author: David Blumberg
Date: 1999-11-18 04:04
Check out the Galper Register Tube/Key at http://members.aol.com/cwindz/galper.html
I can't say that I am not affiliated, but it is a new technology.
David Blumberg
registerkey@mytempo.com
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Author: Eoin
Date: 1999-11-18 07:51
How new do you want? The clarinet in its present form was developed over a hundred years ago and there has been very little change this century. The only innovations I can think of this century are:
- the Mazzeo mechanism, a modification to the basic mechanism for producing a better throat Bb. This never caught on.
- the polycylindrical bore, now standard on all instruments
- the reverse ligature
- plastic, both cheap plastic for student models and expensive "Greenline" wood/resin mixture for professional models
Eoin
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Author: Mario
Date: 1999-11-18 14:33
I beg to differ. There are a lot of things happening out there. As with anything new, sometimes old concepts come back much better executed because of new tools, etc. There is little breakthrough out there, but a constant stream of improvements. Modern clarinet built by seriours craftmen are much better than so called vintage instruments (which does not mean that some instruments are not poorly built today).
Architecture: There is a renewed interest in unibody construction. Rossi is a prime example, but other boutique manufacturers are proposing such instruments (on Italian one whose names escape me - Orsini?) and Steven Fox in Ontario, Canada.
Material: Material science is what allowed humankind to move forward (the computer revolution is actually derived from our fairly recent mastery of fairly exotic materials - but I digress). All kinds of woods (cocobolo, rosewood, stabilized boxwood - touted as the next frontier by some), synthetics of all kinds (the greenline material from Buffet is but an example). Metal is plated with sophisticated alloys, pivots are teflon coated. Pads are becoming silicone and goretex. Tenons are becoming threaded for maximum seal(again, the Italians at work here). ABS is apearing in inserted toneholes and upper body (in the Rossi for instance, the top half of the tune is actually lined with an ABS sleave - so much for wood beeing essential for a nice sound).
Action: There is no limit to the inventiveness in this area. Scews,levers, linkage, and to make things just right.
Let me make an absolutely wild statement here. At the very top end of the market (the Elite, the Wurlitzer, the Rossi strata), here is what I see as the competitive trajectory used by the best manufactures as competitive weapon.
Buffet: material science is their trajectory. The Elite is a great example with teflon everywhere including tenon rings. Tin wall construction is possible because of Buffet mastery of wood stabilization technique, and of the tools needed to handle such a fragile material, etc.
Wurlitzer: Mechanical engineering is where the German excel. The Wurlitzer mechanism is the BMW of action out there. It is simply incredible. Smooth, accurate, comfortable,
Rossi: Architecture (unibody - by far the most important feature of a Rossi when it comes to what makes it special). The rest is good old fashion craftmanship.
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Author: Kathy Beatty
Date: 1999-11-18 15:42
Another fairly recent innovation is the Basset Clarinet in A, which has extended keywork down to written low C. This is not to be confused with the modern Basset Horn in F - also,relatively speaking, a fairly new innovation.
Kathy
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-11-18 16:21
I'll add a few cents' worth on recurring technology in the clarinet. So, here goes...
My clarinet instruction book (a.k.a. "drill book") was written around the turn of the century and was formally copyrighted during the WWI era by a European master. In this book, he mentions the left hand Ab/Eb key and says that it isn't necessary for the clarinet. His written opinion is that clarinet players should learn to slide instead. I have a drill book that was edited and published approximately in the late 1980s by a well recognized US master that has "slide marks" written in the arpeggio drills for folks to follow.
I own a clarinet that was made in 1994. I specifically bought it because it has the left hand Ab/Eb key. This particular model of soprano clarinet comes standard with this key. I personally learned how to use it and I know when it can get me in trouble on my otherwise Standard Boehm system clarinet. Now, why did the clarinet maker put that "extra" key on my horn when history doesn't support it? Was it for flash? Was it to differentiate this model of clarinet from most of their other horns as a premium model versus ordinary pro model? Why do other manufacturers also put this key on their premium product line horns?
If nickel plating works sufficiently for wear and strength, why are the premium horns' keywork silverplated? Why are the premium horns' wood prepared unstained but the ordinary horns come (at probably a higher cost) stained dark black? Ditto for blue steel springs and stainless steel springs. Blue steel is found on the upper crust horns but more rugged stainless steel is found on the lower grade horns.
Is all of this extra "stuff" real technology or just product marketing? Once you successfully split real technological advances from product marketing, you might find that you have a much easier research task in front of you.
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Author: Rex Tomkinson
Date: 1999-11-18 16:25
On a simpler level; I like a gadget found on some pre-war Boosey and Hawkes models, which took the form of a simple spatula fixed to the pad cup between the left hand, first and second rings. This enabled the player to hold down both the first ring and the spatula(with the left index finger)simultaneously, to produce an E flat/B flat. Exactly like the 'bis' key on a sax. I dont know of any modern instruments that have this feature, but someone may have info to the contrary. I had a key made for my clarinet and wouldnt be without it. It is sharp of course, but in very rapid passages (parts of Weber No 1 for example)it is very useful. I hope this is in line with what you are looking for, and good luck.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-11-18 16:43
Kathy Beatty wrote:
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Another fairly recent innovation is the Basset Clarinet in A, which has extended keywork down to written low C. This is not to be confused with the modern Basset Horn in F - also,relatively speaking, a fairly new innovation.
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Well, Kathy, the basset clarinet in A was what K.622 was written for, so I don't think I'd classify it as a "recent innovation"! However - we've added an awful lot of keywork to it since ...
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-11-18 17:21
Anthea - Several of the good clar. books like Brymer and Rendall devote many pages to the developmental history of our favorite inst. Beyond that most of the best innovation is patented so there is a fine "paper trail" out there. For my own interests in oboe and cl fingering systems, Ive collected many pats and searched for more at the USPat office and at a number of Depository Libraries [whose pats go back to Genesis] using their CASSIS retrieval system, and for home Internet searching the IBM site goes back to about 1970 and the USPTO site goes back to about 1976. To go further back and to access some foreign pats, I make use of the examiner's prior-art patentability search which is of record, on which the "famous names" often appear. I see that I have "run-on" here but will be happy to provide searching tips and info that you may request. If you have specific areas of interest, just ask and I'll respond as I did for a now-pro cl'ist in Tulsa when she was working on her grad. degrees at Okla U. Don
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Author: Kathy Beatty
Date: 1999-11-18 18:40
Mark Charette wrote:
Well, Kathy, the basset clarinet in A was what K.622 was written for, so I don't think I'd classify it as a "recent innovation"! However - we've added an awful lot of keywork to it since ...
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I know this is true, but wasn't it a one-of-a-kind instrument owned by the performer, whose name escapes me now, for whom Mozart wrote the concerto? As I recall, except for that, there never was such a critter until recently. Am I wrong about this?
Kathy
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Author: mad dog
Date: 1999-11-18 19:25
Runyon Products, Inc. manufactures an "aftermarket" clarinet 'bis' key, which makes it possible to play Eb/Bb with just the thumb and index finger. I have been using these on all of my clarinets (except those which are factory-equipped with a forked Eb/Bb)for over a decade. It amazes me how well it works (and amazes me even more that so many players have never heard of it). It's cheap (under $20, as I recall), installs in seconds, and requires no alteration of your instrument. If you can find one, try it. If you can't find one, let me know and maybe I can point you in the right direction. Truly an under-appreciated piece of low-tech innovation. For me, this is the most natural fingering for Eb/Bb.
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Author: David Blumberg
Date: 1999-11-19 13:19
The staining covers up defects in the wood.
D.B.
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If nickel plating works sufficiently for wear and strength, why are the premium horns' keywork silverplated? Why are the premium horns' wood prepared unstained but the ordinary horns come (at probably a higher cost) stained dark black? Ditto for blue steel springs and stainless steel springs. Blue steel is found on the upper crust horns but more rugged stainless steel is found on the lower grade horns.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 1999-11-19 22:27
Rex Tomkinson wrote:
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On a simpler level; I like a gadget found on some pre-war Boosey and Hawkes models, which took the form of a simple spatula fixed to the pad cup between the left hand, first and second rings. This enabled the player to hold down both the first ring and the spatula(with the left index finger)simultaneously, to produce an E flat/B flat. Exactly like the 'bis' key on a sax.
My 1937 Buffet has this key. I love it! The Bb is more in tune with this key and sounds fuller, without the weak, husky tone often heard in the throat Bb.
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Author: Frank O'Brien
Date: 1999-11-24 20:43
Has anyone mentioned thumb rests? I have a Dutch job from
Kooiman that takes the strain off the nearer part of the
thumb. Very useful.
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Author: Sir Green Knight
Date: 1999-11-27 04:53
The movable thumbrest is also useful. it helps with long fingers.
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