 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Arhoolie
Date: 2009-02-07 15:50
I am currently considering taking up the clarinet, and would appreciate some advice.
My online researches reveal that a lot of the clarinet music I like, early New Orleans jazz and klezmer, is played on Albert or Simple system instruments.
Looking at instruments for sale I can see no sign of such instruments being widely available here in the UK.
So I'd value opinions on whether I should just go ahead and learn on the Bflat instruments widely availble from Buffet and Yamaha. Or do I hold out for a specialist instrument.
I don't expect to be able to play jazz or klezmer right away, and will find a teacher to learn the basics, and am not averse to classical music also. But ultimately I'm going to want to bend and slide.
I would say at this point that I am an experienced musician (guitar, harmonica and banjo) but have never even so much as put my lips to a clarinet before.
I know that on banjo if I wanted to play bluegrass it would be wrong of me to start on a Irish tenor banjo. So I don't want to make that sort of error early in my clarinet career.
Is a Buffet B12 going to get me to where I want to be?
Thanks in advance.
George
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2009-02-07 16:51
George, Many fine jazz, klezmer and folk clarinetists play on modern "Boehm" instruments. Would you learn to drive on a model T Ford?
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Author: Arlee
Date: 2009-02-07 17:57
This may be of no interest to anyone at all, except possibly yourself, George;
Whatever/whichever instrument you wish to play - for whatever 'reason' - should be entirely your choice. Since, as far as you know at present, the Boehm is most popular where you are, why not start there and then learn the rest at your leisure?
My primary instrument is Albert but I am quite fluent on Boehm, Simple, and Oehler. There really is no "trick" to it at all... because, in any case you must practice to keep you 'chops' up; just do your exercises on various systems as may come your way over time.
I find no significant difference in the instruments I play... they all sound like clarinets  some may "feel" better suited to certain kinds/styles of music than others but, the "average person" will discern no difference at all.
The main thing, in my opinion, it to have fun playing the music of your choosing.
- Arlee -
[ By the way, "Albert" (German - Albert and Oehler) clarinet are readily available (new and second-hand) in Germany. Could you pop over there and have a look around? ]
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Author: Arlee
Date: 2009-02-07 17:59
Whoops!!! apology - double posted by mistake. :\
- Arlee -
Post Edited (2009-02-07 18:01)
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2009-02-07 19:24
Simple system or Albert clarinets are frequently found in second-hand shops in the UK, ususally quite cheap because there is little call for them. BUT many of them are High Pitch instruments i.e. tuned about 1/4 semitone above modern pitch and impossible to play in tune with other instruments tuned to standard pitch (A=440/442).
The only sure way to tell is to play them although doing a length comparison is possible but not infallible. There are usually no markings on them to indicate pitch, just occasionally you may find "LP" which is good.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2009-02-08 14:10
For someone just starting on clarinet I would strongly suggest adopting the Boehm system. The availability of good instruments is much greater. Also you may have difficulty finding a teacher willing to teach Albert system. And if you have an interest in pusuing classical music at some time in the future, Boehm would be the way to go. Becoming proficient on any clarinet will enable you to determine much better exactly what you are looking for in an instrument. There are several variations on the Albert system and these would be quite problematic for a beginner to sort out. Here are two URLs that have some info pertinent to your interest:
http://usuarios.lycos.es/albertsystem/
http://www.geocities.com/silverleafjb/clarinet2.htm
Besides if you become proficient on the Boehm system you may decide that you don't want an Albert after all. As to choice of a Boehm clarinet, I'd look at other possibilities than Buffet....
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Author: ned
Date: 2009-02-09 02:49
Chris P writes: ''Just found this animated fingering chart for non-Boehm systems, so it will apply to Albert/simple and the various German systems from basic to Oehler:''
Thanks Chris - it is most useful.
Chris P also writes: ''....I would strongly suggest adopting the Boehm system. The availability of good instruments is much greater. Also you may have difficulty finding a teacher willing to teach Albert system. And if you have an interest in pusuing classical music at some time in the future, Boehm would be the way to go.....''
Given that (as I understand from many BB correspondents) quite a few orchestras, particularly in Europe, employ German/Oehler system players, I suspect there would be teachers available were you to search.
Then there is the age old dispute(?) between Boehm and Albert/Oehler/German system players regarding the musical qualities of each system and so our correspondent should perhaps investigate these issues as well, prior to making a decision.
And............finally, given that jazz originated in New Orleans..........and that the majority of clarinet players from this locality played Albert system..........it does give weight to the view, held by some, that this system better conveys the subtle nuances of jazz as it was originally played.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-02-09 06:58
Simple/Albert systems have a much clearer lower register, especially the E (xoo|ooo) and C (xxx|ooo) as these have a large uncovered tonehole for these notes - ob Boehms, they're vents covered by a pad.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2009-02-09 12:13
I'm suggesting Boehm because it's an initially simpler choice and because Arhoolie is in Edinburgh not a germanic part of Europe where Oehler wold be the most likely choice. That said, Ed Hall played a Hammerschmidt in later years, and very few clarinettists sounded better than he. Given that many jazz clarinettists played Boehm, others played anything from a 2-ring Simple System to a 6-ring Selmer, and many top performers today are playing some version of the Albert, I'd say it's personal choice. Anyway the sound depends more on the player than on the horn. We've been pointed to examples recently oin this board of someone murdering an Albert clarinet and someone else doing the same to a Boehm......emphasizing the need for good training, probably more likely to be available for the Boehm in Edinburgh
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