 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bazzer the Jazzer
Date: 2003-02-18 23:37
I have just visited the Selmer History Web Site and it mentions a Selmer Mazzeo’ system clarinet, never heard of it can anybody enlighten me? Web Site below.
http://www.selmer.fr/html/english/historique/instrum/instru.htm
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Author: Shawn
Date: 2003-02-19 00:10
In brief, Rosario Mazzeo was a clarinetist with the Boston Symphony for 33 years. But, I believe it was not until he relocated to California that he and Selmer developed this clarinet. He developed this clarinet in order to solve any difficult fingerings that one would encounter playing the Boehm system. If you are interested in knowing more about this clarinet, you could buy his book "The Clarinet: Excellent and Artistry."
Hope this helps.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-02-19 15:01
Frequently, on EBAY, a few Bundy plastic version of the MAZ [mainly the "pinch" Bb keying improvement] are auctioned. This addition prevents using "resonance lower-stack" fingering to improve throat tones, and requires a bit of re-learning to use. The Selmer-Paris wood version has all the bells/whistles as shown in his several patents [have #s and copies], and is much discussed by Brymer and others. They are hard to find [I want one] and will require lots of re-learning to take full advantage of the changes-additions, a bit like the LeBlanc Model 100 Alto Sax !! Great, but not adopted, also. Search here for more info. Don
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Author: Jill
Date: 2003-02-20 11:26
I have played one virtually all my playing life--they were quite popular with beginning players in the 1960's because of the covered thumb hole. I moved on to the Series 10, and that's what I play now. The normally stuffy-sounding Bb is not a problem--always clear. The bell is unusual--no ring.
Problems? Well, I'm pretty much stuck with the system, since I'm so used to it. I can play the regular Bb fingering if I think about it, but I really need the covered thumb--in fact, I havetwo non-Mazzeo clarinets in the shop right now, trying to get a cover put on them.
I've bought several Bundy Mazzeo clarinets on Ebay, and some weeks ago, there was a set of Bb and A Mazzeos.
Naturally, I think it's a great system, and I don't know why it didn't catch on better, but Mazzeo let the patent die, I believe.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-02-20 12:02
Jill wrote:
>
> but Mazzeo let the patent die, I
> believe.
Patents don't die ... they expire.
(They're not renewable, if that's what you were thinking - you get a one-time shot at exclusivity)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-02-20 14:09
Well put, Mark. Misconceptions about and attacks on our patent/trademark/copyright laws are too frequent IMHO, so let me quote a paragraph of our US Constitution. Article 1, [Congress], Section 8 [Powers], [para. 8], says, "To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries". Further info re: what laws Congress passed may be found at www.uspto.gov [its a big, very important operation of government!!] Don
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-02-20 17:45
Don Berger quoted:
>
> [Congress] ... by securing for limited times ...
And therein lies the rub for both copyrights and patents:
In the US:
How long is a "limited time" and what special interests (including myself - I'm a "special interest") are influencing Congress at any one time?
There are many email lists and web sites (and books!) that discuss this very thing; I belong to a few. In almost all cases people agree that patents & copyrights are a "good thing" - it's the Congress that gets things mucked up ;^)
As I break my rule of no politics ...
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of congress; but I repeat myself." -Mark Twain.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-02-20 19:03
I doubt you are breaking "no-politics" rules, Mark [at least not on this subject], its one of a very few things somewhat independent of party, IMHO. I'm going to go to our library for pertinent quotes by our "OK spokesman" Will Rogers, also a Congressional Critic like M T [S C]. I believe our present patent statutes [in cooperation with the world {at last}] are "reasonable". Copyright law needs overhaul and cooperation, IMHO. Please let us know what [your] communicating friends think, it might help influence legislation, like our Cl BB may have brought about more clar playing on FM radio, heard some Sabine Meyer this AM, WOW ! Don
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-02-20 19:18
Don Berger wrote:
>
> Please let us know what [your] communicating
> friends think, it might help influence legislation,
Lost the last battle I helped financially support (see http://eldred.cc/) but there'll be more to come. Congress needs to be pushed, since the US Supreme Court has said that the term is unconditionally set by Congress.
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Author: Jill
Date: 2003-02-20 20:50
Anyway, all politics aside, the system is no longer being made in its original form, although we clarinetists are always striving for that clear throat tone Bb. I just wish it had worked out--some say that it was because Mazzeo went with Selmer.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-02-20 21:57
TKS, Mark, will look into that "battle". Jill, the "Low Eb" key on a[usually] Full Boehm cl will give a mid-staff Bb similar to the B nat. I often use it if the A + trill key fingering is not convenient. Thinking of that makes me wonder about [playing with a] Basset extension on a Bb horn!! to cover the throat tones! Don
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Author: Wes
Date: 2003-02-20 22:04
About two years ago, I overhauled a full Mazzeo Selmer clarinet with all the "bells and whistles". It was a tedius job and I don't want to do it again. It's a difficult clarinet to adjust, as it is complex. The Bundy models are simpler, of course. The wood was simply gorgeous and it sounded great, however. There was a little clutch on it where you could disable the Mazzeo system.
I can see why it didn't survive and I can't see why Selmer agreed to make it. Mazzeo, my teacher's teacher, was a very fine musician and wrote a wonderful book about the clarinet.
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Author: Jill
Date: 2003-02-21 01:00
Thanks, Don, I will try that one on my non--Mazzeos. Yes, Wes, that's another problem--it's very difficult to find someone who can fix or adjust the system, because so few people know how. Sure you don't want to try just one more?
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