 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2002-08-24 13:21
I am a french clarinetist playing Selmer Signature both in Bb and A.
I also play Buffet RC clarinet which is the very standard clarinet in France, the most used by professionnals and teachers.
Since a few years, people want to play with a lower tune, so they prefer RC in 440, as well as Festival or Vintage.
Why american don't use RC clarinet?
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-08-24 13:43
They are used here, just not as widely as the R13. They are more expensive, for one. In fact, often the only RCs readily available in the USA are the prestige line.
The RC eflat is quite popular among professionals (I play one myself).
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2002-08-24 15:38
David, do Buffet make a regular RC Eb? I know they used to....but I have a feeling now its only E11, R13, and the R13 and RC Prestiges. I chose a Patricola Eb over the Buffet and have regretted it ever since.
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Author: Dan
Date: 2002-08-24 15:42
One reason is that too many Americans are stuck in 1967, and dont have the mind or courage to try anything different than what their teacher said was right (R13). It's sad. The Europeans are doing so much more with sound and musicianship, why can't more of us follow their example?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-08-24 16:32
Dan wrote:
>
> One reason is that too many Americans are stuck in 1967,
> and dont have the mind or courage to try anything different
> than what their teacher said was right (R13). It's sad. The
> Europeans are doing so much more with sound and musicianship,
> why can't more of us follow their example?
Personally I thing this kind of statement is bull. If I followed the "European example" I'd be playing on an RC or perhaps forced into playing a German system. What about "musicianship"? Explain please?
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Author: John Schertle
Date: 2002-08-24 18:01
Dan . . . stuck in 1967?? Hardly. The R-13 has undergone myriad small changes and refinements since the 60's (hence Buffet's attempt to recreate the qualities of the older instruments with the Vintage line.)
R-13's sound and feel great to the majority of American professional players. Cost really isn't a factor - I'd surely pay much more money for a clarinet that I truly liked better than the R-13. I'm sure most professionals would do likewise if they found a truly compelling instrument to switch to.
Making a sweeping generalization about R-13 fans lacking the "mind or courage" to try anything other than an R-13 that a teacher might have recommended to us is ridiculous. Many players, including myself are trying the latest offerings from Leblanc and Selmer and Yamaha, not to mention custom makers like Rossi and Guy Chadash. Indeed, it seems that we are in the middle of a resurgance of research and new development among clarinet makers. This is great for the industry.
I do however continue to enjoy the flexibility of sound that my R-13's bring to my music.
Someone mentioned RC e-flats - they are excellent - I just bought 2 for some students of mine. As far as RC soprano clarinets go, they have an intriguing sound. I found that care has to be taken to retain focus and consistency through the throat register. Some students of mine who play RC have had a difficult time with this focus issue. However they are certainly a clarinet to consider if you have access to a few to try.
Personally I hope that the current trend in the clarinet world (including America) to experiment with and be open to newer clarinet designs will continue - it will keep all the clarinet makers on their toes.
-John Schertle
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-08-24 20:39
My RC eflat is not a prestige, although it has silver plated keys.
As for the 1967 comment, Yawn. Another non Buffet person who for some reason needs to justify that choice by bashing others. Wake me when you have an interesting or original idea.
David Hattner
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-08-24 21:01
HAT wrote:
> As for the 1967 comment, Yawn. Another non Buffet person who
> for some reason needs to justify that choice by bashing others.
Let me add just a bit. I'm not a Buffet player (it just happened that way) but, to amplify:
The other vendors have a hard time nowadays to displace the R13 for the general professional level market. They have 3 choices:
1) Market a significantly better clarinet for $1800 or so.
2) Market an equivalent clarinet for significantly less than $1800
3) Have marketing devise a plan to make it seem than an equivalent clarinet at an equivalent price is better than a Buffet.
#1 is hard - clarinets are hard to make "significantly better" at any price.
#2 is do-able - at the expense of margins
#3 seems to be what happens most frequently, but the marketing plans don't seem to work well.
There are niche vendors, but only 4 that can compete today at quantity levels required for the general market - Buffet, Leblanc, Yamaha, and Selmer.
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Author: Dylan
Date: 2002-08-25 18:10
I prefer the R13 for Bb, and RC for my A. The RC has a mellower, deeper tone and corresponding feel, in my opinion, so I use an RC A in orchestral playing, since most of the literature for A is meant for that kind of a tone (in the romantic rep, anyway).
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-08-26 00:39
HAT said
"Another non Buffet person who for some reason needs to justify that choice by bashing others."
Aren't you just doing exactly what you don't like! I could be wrong.
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Author: Dan
Date: 2002-08-26 05:09
This HAT is a perfect example of the kind of clarinet player I was talking about.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-08-26 11:58
Dan wrote:
>
> This HAT is a perfect example of the kind of clarinet
> player I was talking about.
And you've heard him play? And he's not musical? And he's never tried anything other than what his teachers' have told him?
Man, you are clueless.
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-08-26 16:56
Sorry, I hadn't seen all this hoo ha.
Well, anyone who has heard me play knows that I didn't subscribe to everything I got from Marcellus, mostly regarding vibrato. But my life experience has proven to me that a lot of things he was insistent about regarding the handling of the instrument itself were dead on correct.
Of course, there is not one correct way to play the clarinet.
However, there are plenty of WRONG ways. That gets proved every day.
And I wasn't bashing those who choose not to play Buffet, far from it. Some of my favorite performers on the clarinet don't play Buffet clarinets. Some of my LEAST favorite performers do play Buffet clarinets.
I defy anyone to play the clarinet better than Alessandro Carbonare played his Selmer at the 2000 conference in Oklahoma. Good god, what an awesome display that was. Ricardo Morales has been equally impressive on any number of brands.
What I do notice from some pre-professional or non-professionals who have chosen other brands (at least around here) is a great annoyance that they are in the minority.
On the other hand, some people seem to think that because they play Buffet clarinets (or because they have STOPPED playing Buffet clarinets or because they NEVER played them) they don't have obvious, serious problems in their playing. They think the instrument has corrected everything for them.
All of you folks have to just get over it.
Or better yet, practice 6 hours a day and show us all how it's done. Playing any brand of clarinet well requires intimate knowledge of ALL of its intonational and response idiosynchrasies. And I am not going to take on the enormous challenge of changing brands until I know in advance that the outcome will make my playing both better and easier to accomplish.
-HATTNER
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