 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: blazian
Date: 2007-12-31 06:26
So there's open holes and rings, or there's plateau keys. Is it possible to have something in between, similar to an open-hole flute? To illustrate, imagine every one of the six plateau keys of a soprano clarinet with a hole drilled in each, according to the size of the corresponding tonehole underneath, maybe within 3 mm. of the outside edge of a key.
How would this effect playability? Would this enhance venting or allow half-holes by pressing just the rings? Would it help with smooth glissandos and pitch bending?
Does anyone know of anything in existence like this or even similar ideas (besides Lh1 for bass clarinet)?
What do you think?
- Martin
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-12-31 09:42
I don't think there'll be any benefit from perforated plates when compared to ring keys - the perforation will probably be around the same diameter of the tonehole through the chimney anyway, and it means more expensive keywork, more pillars, springs, adjusting screws and perforated pads which can be a problem in themselves if not installed correctly.
Ring keys do the job in the simplest manner, and you can control the opening of the toneholes easily enough through half-holing if need be.
I've got an old Selmer A which has a perforated plate for RH finger 1 which connects to the lower rings 9for RH 2 and 3) and the C vent above by a bridge and adjusting screw (and extra pillars). Though I'm not entirely sure why this was fitted (it all looks original).
Perforated plates on Gillet Conservatoire oboes are there for better tuned trills (and to minimise the amount of fingers doing the trilling) - to bring into tune notes that would otherwise be too sharp if the immediate tonehole below is open during the trill (such as D#-E or G#-A). But that's oboes and they have only added more and more mechanism over time (as have Oehler system clarinets), whereas Boehm system clarinets were been redesigned (by Klose and Buffet) with simplicity and reliability in mind.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-12-31 13:43
Fine comments, Chris, I had wondered about the several oboe keyings I encountered while on my Hautbois attempt. Some of the earlier Leblanc-made alto cls had a mix of open and plateau'd tone holes, finger-reach here played a part [for me]. A review of old Bb sop pics would prob. show some different styles of keyings, I believe. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-12-31 15:33
blazian -
I started to answer this, but it evolved into a separate posting on legato finger motion. As Stanley Hasty said, the clarinet's open holes make a pure legato possible, in a way that doesn't work with plateau keys.
Read and listen to the links and tell me what you think.
Ken Shaw
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