 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Baz
Date: 2011-03-23 10:40
This is my first posting on the CBB
I have a pair of E.J.Albert simple system clarinets with Barret action, I use the Bb, my question is about the wood it is made out of, when I first got them I was on a gig when a very old reed player I knew who also overhauled instruments had a look at the Bb and as soon as he had it in his hands he looked at me and said Cocus wood, he said he could tell from the weight, it is rather light, does anybody know if Albert made clarinets from Cocus wood?
Barrie
Post Edited (2011-03-23 12:47)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2011-03-23 13:42
Yes, there were many cocuswood simple system E.J.Alberts made. I own a pair myself, and for several years played on a wonderful pair of cocuswood Boehm E.J.Alberts sold to me by Alan Hacker.
I also played for quite a time on a pair of E.J.Albert Boehm system clarinets in blackwood -- and incidentally one of my very first outings on that 'A' instrument can be heard on 'Pavarotti's greatest hits' recording of 'E lucevan le stelle' with the RPO (1969?), of which orchestra I was the then newly appointed principal clarinet.
It's amusing to recall that both Pavarotti and the solo itself were completely new to me as a young player when we recorded it; it was simply an afternoon session with the RPO and a 'new' Italian tenor.
I remember the horn players, who had worked for many years in the ROH Covent Garden, trying to 'coach' me between takes.
"Tony, you should hang on to the high note longer!"
"Why? There's nothing written -- it just says, 'vagamente'.
"But, everybody does it that way!"
Actually, knowing more about the piece, I'd probably play it ALL differently now anyway. (But, listening from this distance, it's not so terrible:-)
Tony
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-03-23 13:52
Cocus wood is quite heavy. The color is muddy brown. If all else fails, take a piece of sandpaper to an inconspicuous spot. If your eyes tear up and you start coughing uncontrollably, it's cocus.
I don't know about Albert, but cocus was used frequently in that period.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2011-03-23 18:01
Actually, cocuswood is quite light, certainly compared with African blackwood.
I forgot to mention that you can hear me playing those actual Albert system cocuswood clarinets on the delightful recording of the Chopin Piano concerto no. 2 by Manny Ax and the OAE. Of course the clarinet is quite incidental in that piece, and in the other pieces on the disc; but HIS performance is quite splendid, in my opinion.
Tony
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-03-23 18:36
Cocus is about as dense as rosewood or cocobolo - definitely nowhere as dense as grenadilla. It was popular in the 19th and early 20th century for flutes, piccolos, oboes and clarinets. And like cocobolo, contact with it or inhaling the dust can cause allergic reactions due to the toxicity.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-03-23 22:04
One thing with the Albert brothers clarinets is the build quality and attention to detail which is incredible - sadly this aspect has been lacking since the '70s and people just put up with it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
