 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tom Puwalski
Date: 2006-03-25 01:58
I was just reading a pro news website that says Morrie has been named like head clarinet guru at Leblanc! It sounds like there might be a new clarinet in the works. Maybe it will be a really long barrel with keys and terminating in a very cool bell. How cool is that. Check out the site!
http://www.pro-music-news.com/html/11/e60322co.htm
Tom Puwalski, former soloist with the US Army Field Band, Clarinetist with Lox&Vodka, and Author of "The Clarinetist's Guide to Klezmer"and most recently by the order of the wizard of Oz, for supreme intelligence, a Masters in Clarinet performance
Post Edited (2006-03-25 02:37)
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Author: Scotti
Date: 2006-03-25 03:17
Very interesting!
I'm not a big fan of Morrie's products, but I'd be the first to say that this could signal a significant change at the top of the clarinet community. Obviously, it remains to be seen what Morrie's presence will result in, but at the very least it makes Leblanc a more interesting company to watch in the next couple years
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2006-03-25 03:55
I guess now that he is working for Leblanc, there is unlikely we'd see a "Backun" clarinet under his own label, it would probably be a conflict of interest of some sort?
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2006-03-25 04:19
It would seem implausible that Backun products would have to keep their line of products anything other than proprietary. I don't honestly think one is going to see 10,000 dollar clarinets, 500 - 600 dollar machine made Zinner mouthpieces, etc, in Selmer/LeBlanc retailer's shops alongside production line 2 - 3000 dollar professional model clarinets and 75 - 100 dollar machine made mouthpieces of the Selmer/LeBlanc/Woodwind brand variety.
At least I don't see him or the corporate conglomerate letting that kind of thing happen.
Gregory Smith
Post Edited (2006-03-25 04:40)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-03-25 04:44
Morrie Backun's recent appointment raises a few interesting questions:
"...We are very pleased to have Morrie lead the efforts in developing our Leblanc professional clarinets..."
Haven't we heard that before, when Tom Ridenour was hired by Leblanc for essentially the same thing?
I am also reminded of the words of Julie Deroche, who not long ago posted:
"... We have removed models that were not current, but this has been a gradual evolution based on customer demand, sales figures, cost of manufacturing, removal of repetitious items, etc. Our current line represents the best of what we offer, in my opinion, and a well-rounded selection - each clarinet with its own unique characteristics.
Again, in my opinion, the clarinet line at Leblanc had so many different clarinets (and some with very few actual "differences") that it became cumbersome and confusing. Our current offerings all "make sense" - meaning that each has a reason for existing in the catalogue..."
Obviously we now have a new change in direction.
My guess? Leblanc and Backun will soon develop and heavily promote a new top of the line clarinet (with a specially designed Backun inspired barrel and bell) to rival the Buffet Tosca.
Will it be the most heavily promoted clarinet of all times? Probably
Will it be an improvement to what is already available? In the opinion of some players, yes. In the opinion of others, no.
Will it be the most expensive commercially made clarinet from the Big 4? Without question.
You heard it here first...GBK
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Author: Ed
Date: 2006-03-25 05:10
"My guess? Leblanc and Backun will soon develop and heavily promote a new top of the line clarinet...."
well, I didn't think they brought him on to resurrect the L300! ;-)
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Author: clarinut
Date: 2006-03-25 05:47
Tom,
Thanks for posting this. It is indeed very interesting. I wonder how long this was under lock and key and why they are announcing this to the public now and not in the summer at ICA fest.
I am pretty sure Backun is going to continue making his own clarinets. He does have a wait list of several years for them. At least that is what I heard from a friend who has ordered a clarinet from him. I will ask her this weekend.
GBK, Was Ridenour not working for Leblanc prior to the purchase of the company by Steinway and Conn-Selmer? If so, I think this is a little different. Both companies seem to be very conservative, yet powerful in the industry and with that amount of support behind the Leblanc/Backun clarinet, it could be very interesting what is accomplished.
Let's be honest, whether you like him or not, the man does have a pretty big following, and has the most impressive list of clients in the industry. Just look at the website alone. He must be doing something right.
GS, being an "artisan" mouthpiece maker and posterchild for Buffet, I can understand why you seem to have a chip on your shoulder with regards to Backun. I mean, you use this board as a blatant way of slamming Backun on a regular basis. I do not post that often but I read everything and I can tell you're not a fan. There is simply no need to take aim at other people in the industry, regardless if they are competition or not. That's just immoral. Really, I could ask how many players in the CSO (your own orchestra) actively use your mouthpieces, but I won't do that. Mostly likely because it would be embarassing and I would prefer to take the high road.
I believe it is important to support everyone who is trying to make the clarinet a better instrument. This could be through performance, technology or craftsmanship. Whatever form it comes in, it is LONG overdue.
CN
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Author: Tom Puwalski
Date: 2006-03-25 11:17
We live in a world where performing anything that resembles classical or live music for that matter is waning. Sony isn't recording new classical music, smaller orchestras are folding, music playing computers are trying to work their way into Broadway pits, and people are hiring DJs to play weddings. I was at a wedding recently where a DJ played a few cuts from my bands CD in a hora medley, I couldn't dance and I believe me I felt that I had my music stolen from me. How long can any performing organization exist when ticket sales aren't what's paying the bills?
So here we are in the first part of the 21th century and it looks like some company has decided to invest some time and money into something that, for me has been a major passion of mine for 37 years. So someone tell me how that can be a bad thing? Maybe a guy like Morrie, gets sick of fixing all the clarinets that get sent to him, maybe from a technician's point of view he thinks that it's possible to pick one off the shelf at the local music and arts center and play it at a rehearsal the same day. A feat that none of the current manufactures have managed to accomplished to date. So I ask again, how is this a bad thing?
Now here is my point, I have read the posts on this board for years, and I have come to one conclusion. 90% of clarinetists that post on this list are totally clueless when it comes time evaluating a piece of equipment. Ah the things I've seen, people getting 10 vandoren mouthpieces and picking the "great" one in 15 min. Buying "moenig" barrels, just cause their teacher has one, and not knowing why. People arguing about which Moenig barrel has the real Moenig dimensions without putting it on their horns and applying a little scientific process. I for one, would be scared to produce a product for clarinetists, lets face we're one flaky lot. When I put something on Ebay, I am amazed at some of the incredibly "non informed" questions I get. I can only imagine the ones that will be Morries phone nest week. But I bet I can guess what the #1 will be..... "Will it play like an R13?"
Tom Puwalski, former soloist with the US Army Field Band, Clarinetist with Lox&Vodka, and Author of "The Clarinetist's Guide to Klezmer"and most recently by the order of the wizard of Oz, for supreme intelligence, a Masters in Clarinet performance
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2006-03-25 12:48
Generally speaking, ad copy and information given to the general public advertising a product that clearly it is not, either through acts of commission or omission, and after observing the general froth created by such an act, I believe that someone has the ethical responsibility to speak up.
clarinut -
I would not disagree with those who would say that the deliberate, inflammatory remarks inserted into your post are themselves clearly unethical.
Gregory Smith
Post Edited (2006-03-25 13:54)
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Author: larryb
Date: 2006-03-25 13:27
I think it's rather transparent what's going on here:
Look for the Leblanc/Backun/Steinway piano - made of exotic hard woods and designed to tune to the clarinet.
Perfect corporate synergy.
Alternative - Leblanc is redesigning its basset horn in order to compete with Dan Leeson's upcoming Steve Fox "basset horn" auction.
Greg Smith - I've really enjoyed playing your mouthpiece (Ched. 1*) for the past 5 years!
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2006-03-25 14:26
Let's just wait and see. The good stuff tends to survive hypes. If leblanc comes up with some revolutionary design we might get something good. Although at this point I wonder: "What is left to know about clarinet acoustics and design?".
There is no perfect instrument, all designs are compromises. I feel manufacturers should spend more time picking the right materials and improving the consistency of their manufacturing process and less time designing new labels for an old clarinet design.
Anyway, if you can get something reasonably in tune, then get to know it and just learn to play the darn thing!
-S
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2006-03-25 15:08
clarinut wrote:
"Really, I could ask how many players in the CSO (your own orchestra) actively use your mouthpieces, but I won't do that. Mostly likely because it would be embarassing and I would prefer to take the high road."
I don't want to start a war about this, since I'm sure Greg doesn't care, but this is one of the most immature comments, designed to do exactly what you claim you're not doing. Don't ever post something like this and pretend you're taking the high road, just by saying it. This is one of the best examples of taking the low road I've ever seen.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-03-25 15:20
[ Any further discussion or predictions about the original topic will be purely speculative, thus it is time to give this thread a rest, until any new developments arise - GBK ]
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