The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-02-23 05:09
I am a Japanese and nearly surprised to find American peoples are seeking what famous players used to play:R13.
I have no objection to play R13,but hearing a topic of when a experienced guy visited a Buffet shop and asked why not so good intonationend R13,the foreman replied "Use RC",I felt why American players stick to R13.
Tom Ridenour saids in Klarinet Archve that R-13s don't have good intonation and the person who visited the shop also felt same, and the Buffet persons recommended RCs.
Why American people stick to R13s? If their teacherdirected to them to use R13s? There are plenty of stupid teachers!
Forget them! (and "I" forgot what to write!)
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Author: ted
Date: 1999-02-23 13:37
Hiroshi,
(Ohio gozai masu) I may not address your question directly, but it isn't possible to manufacture a clarinet for which every note in tune. The various manufacturers address this problem differently. For the faster passages the intonation "problems" of most instruments won't be noticable. On slower passages, a good player can adjust using his embouchure or alternate fingerings to play the note in tune. So regardless of which instrument you play, the musician may need to made some adjustments in the slower passages to account for intonation problems.
When playing in large clarinet sections, many conductors not only urge musicians to use the same brand of clarinet, but often the same mouthpiece. That way the section will be in tune with itself. I suppose that is one argument for the R13, since that majority of the other clarinets in the section may be R13s.
I personally have only played in small ensembles with strings and piano recently. I play an older Leblanc, which I've been told by other clarinetists plays very well in tune. I still find myself making minor adjustments for intonation now and then in the slower passages.
Obviously many players find the R13 to be a good medium to produce the sounds they are trying to achieve. But it's still the player who is responsible for the sound. Listen to someone like David Shifirin play a R13, and you'll find that both the tone and intonation are beautiful.
I understand from other postings on this board that Buffet, Leblanc, Selmers, Patricola, and Rossi all make very good (but not perfect) professional instruments. I also understand that some lesser known manufacturers make instruments that are so bad out of tune, that it's impossible to overcome the tuning problems.
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Author: Albert
Date: 1999-02-23 21:58
Hiroshi,
It's all a matter of preference! Sure, teachers recommend the R13 because their really nice in tone and quality. It doesn't matter what Tom Ridenour thinks, it's all about what you like. Sure, go for the RC, if you like it, but not because everyone else does. :o)
-Albert
(and our teachers are not stupid!)
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Author: Merry
Date: 1999-02-24 03:20
I personally use a Buffet RC clarinet but that was rather by accident then by design. When I bought it it was the best second hand instrument I could find (ie it was in perfect condition and only 7 years old) for the money I had to spend. I have never regretted my choice, I love the sound of it, the intonation is very good (although it is a little sharp in the chalemaeu register but nothing I can't deal with) and feels easy to blow. However, if I had have found a R-13, LeBlanc or Selmer clarinet of similar quality and price I may have bought them instead. From what I have been led to believe from reading this board is that the R13 has the preferred sound in the USA whilst the RC is preferred in Europe. I am sure both are fine instruments.
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