 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mitch K.
Date: 2003-04-17 21:33
I got a call from one of the local music shops here, and they asked me to come down and try four new Selmer clarinets that they just got in: a Signature, Recital, 10G, and 10SII. (You should know that I've been a fairly vigilant Buffet fan since I started full-time clarinet studies in college.)
I went down to the shop today and began to try the horns. The Signature was very nice--nuch nicer than the Signature I tried a year ago at a music educators' convention. The sound was very elegant--much like the body design, but it lacked the "power" I like.
The 10G was okay, but nothing special. For a short time as an undergrad I played on a 10G. The sound of which Russ Dagon really liked (when I auditioned for Northwestern) but no one else did...including myself!
The 10SII was not to my liking at all. It may be, in its own right, a good horn, but it was too much of a departure for my taste.
The Recital, however, was ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!!! After being rather shocked by its VERY think walls (and addes mass), I was further surprised by its tone. The horn is the woman that you'd leave your wife and kids for!!
Yes, my elation may have partially stemmed from the fact that my R13 B-flat is in a slight state of disrepair and in need of a complete overhaul, but my R13 A is well-maintained and the Recital played slightly better.
The timbre throughtout the registers was very even. On my R13's, the upper clarion is slightly "bright", but the upper clarion on the Recital was smooth, focused, and not the slightest bit shrill. By contrast, it was more difficult to play softly in the altissimo register on the Recital than on my R13.
The intonation on the Recital didn't seem to be any better or any worse than on any other top-of-the-line horn. However, the Recital was able to sustain loud dynamics in the low chalumeau better than my R13's and other horns I've tried--the sound didn't become spread and unfocused.
I tell ya, it took a lot of self-control to not whip out my credit card and leave with the Recital! Of course I haven't (and probably won't) put it through the tests--having another set of well-trained ears listen to the horn; play it in a large ensemble; etc... But next time I'm in the market for a new set of horns, I promise that I'll give the Recitals the consideration that I think they deserve.
My two cents,
Mitch King
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-04-17 22:20
I didn't get to try one, but I recently heard some Recitals being tested, and I even heard someone who performs on one recently. They do sound *nice*!
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Author: Ralph
Date: 2003-04-17 23:49
About a year ago I was in a city that has a music store that keeps a nice assortment of clarinets in stock. I took the opportunity to try various Buffet and Selmer models plus a Patricola. Of the various models I tried (R-13, Vintage, Prestige, 10sII, Signature and Recital), I also preferred the sound of the Recital. My wife, who has better ears than I do and has listened to her fair share of clarinet music, also preferred the sound of the Recital. Alas, I wasn't in the market for a new clarinet. When I am ready to buy a new instrument, I'll definitely consider the Recital.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-04-18 01:52
Is the Recital and adaptation of German designs?
Straighter bore in the lower section?
Narrower overall dimension (central bore and toneholes)?
What kind of money is required to take one home?
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Author: Mitch K.
Date: 2003-04-18 02:51
The music shop where I tried out the horns told me that they'd sell it to me for about $2500. When I got back to my office I called Woodwind/Brasswind, and their price was $2200.
I don't know if the Recital is more of a German design or not. I do know that the bore is more narrow than other popular professional clarinets.
Mitch King
P.S. I don't know if either price was with or without the optional low F vent.
Post Edited (2003-04-18 03:53)
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-04-18 13:11
Mitch,
Ralph said, "My wife, who has better ears than I do and has listened to her fair share of clarinet music, also preferred the sound of the Recital", and that is exactly my situation. I bought one in 1988 and still like it very much.
Cheers,
Hans
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Author: Ralph
Date: 2003-04-18 13:28
The Recital has a small bore for a clarinet. Nominal bore dimension according to Selmer website is .563" and is a traditional Selmer design - a reverse conical design. The additional thickness of the clarinet body (which does add weight) is supposed to make the sound "darker".
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Author: Mitch K.
Date: 2003-04-18 14:00
Does anyone have experience with the Recital in a professional orchestral setting? On Selmer's website, the Recital is being touted is a clarinet for chamber and solo playing.
Mitch King
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-04-18 14:20
"My" local-pro-clist-friend, Bill Viseur, after trying several cls in our symp, has "gone back" to his Bb Recital, and with me in the down-front audiences, has the best sounds I've heard. The only better sounds, IMVHO, that I can recall, were by David Shifrin playing the Mozarts on Basset A and "standard" A at our recent OK Mozart. Great, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: larryb
Date: 2003-04-18 14:35
to mitch's question: "Does anyone have experience with the Recital in a professional orchestral setting? On Selmer's website, the Recital is being touted is a clarinet for chamber and solo playing."
It is my understanding that Ricardo Morales plays Recital clarinets in the Met Opera Orchestra. I met him once at the old (!) WW&BW shop in Manhattan, and he was trying out Recitals (with the low F vent key).
I've played the Recital in an amateur orchestral setting, and it works fine.
I have a Recital A (my Bb is a Signature), and I spent a lot of time comparing the Recital to the R13. At the time I was testing, the Recital felt best, had a more focused, even tone, and had better intonation throughout its range.
I'm very happy with the Recital after several years of regular use. Sometimes I wonder about trading in the Signature for a Recital, but I love the Signature too - I guess I'll have to live with a mismatched set. On the other hand, I've convinced myself that having two instruments with different feel and qualities only adds to the variety clarinet playing experience.
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Author: donald
Date: 2003-04-18 20:07
Alessandro Carbonare played Recital clarinets for some years- in fact may still do for all i know. He used them (with the F vent) in the Oreshestre Nationale de France, and as an international soloist and recording artist.
A colleague of mine used them in her orchestra (Principal player in a "2nd tier" orchestra) and stopped using them as they weren't "loud enough". my opinion was that the player needed to develop a bit more "tonal projection/focus" in the sound and not (in this instance at any rate) blame the clarinet- she now plays 10S-11 and has the same problem.
the recital has been around for ages- i've always wondered why Selmer kept it in the catalogue as it's never appeared to be very popular, but maybe the instrument is played lots in France/Europe? i never saw a single one played in the whole time i lived in the US (except by Mr Carbonare, which is admitedly a pretty good endorsement!)
donald
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Author: Mitch K.
Date: 2003-04-19 06:45
I went back to the music shop and took the horn for a more thorough test drive. I took it to school and played it in larger venues and was somewhat surprised.
In a side-by-side test of the new Recital and my old R 13, there didn't seem to be as noticeable a difference. The upper clarion was only ever-so-slightly more "covered" then my R13, however the key work is much, much quieter on the Recital. (I'm confident that my R13 will be comparably as quiet after I have it overhauled in a couple months. I base that opinion on the fact that my R 13 A is fairly quiet with regards to key work.)
Eventhough the Recital was only marginally better than my R13, I still think it's a very good horn that's worth investigating. There are some very fine qualities to the horn--like smooth and efficient key work--that make it worthy of stature equal to that of the R13, Signature, Opus (I assume, since I've never tried an Opus), a Prestige, etc...
So, instead of postponing my trip to Europe in order to pay for a new set of clarinets, I'll try these barrels that are getting rave reviews, the Backun barrels.
Best of luck,
Mitch King
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