 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2013-02-18 23:01
Hi guys,
I´m looking for information about boxwood clarinet. I know Charles Neidich is playing on one. Do you know any disadvantages for playing boxwood instrument? I really like the tone color on the lower register especially. It has kind of "fat tone" that I like.
Thanks
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-02-19 14:47
What has a "fat tone" in the lower register? The clarinet or Neidich?
Karl
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2013-02-19 17:13
kdk wrote:
> What has a "fat tone" in the lower register? The clarinet or
> Neidich?
>
> Karl
Actually, what I meant is that I think the clarinet Neidich plays, has a distinctive "airy" sound particularly on lower register, I can´t quite find on instruments made from grenadilla.
I´m not entirely sure if It´s only because of the player.
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2013-02-19 19:42
Thing is, you say Neidich plays on a boxwood clarinet --at least, I suppose he does on what you're listening to. (Does it say he's doing that? He of course plays on non-boxwood instruments too.)
I play on both boxwood and non-boxwood instruments. But probably I sound different from Charles Neidich in the low register on both -- or at least I think I do.
So, it's not clear what you're asking. BOXWOOD usually means, simple 5+ key instruments. And it's true that they have different characteristics: they tend to be what you might call, 'gentler' -- but that also depends on the player.
Why don't you find someone in Helsinki/Finland with a simple/non-simple boxwood instrument, and try it? Then you might find out something.
Someone here may tell you what is THE ACTUAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SOUND OF BOXWOOD INSTRUMENTS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS.
People are like that, here.
But my advice is, don't believe them.
Tony
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2013-02-19 20:24
I presume you are talking about the instruments which Charles Neidich plays on in his playwithapro videos. I believe he is playing on boxwood instruments made by Schwenk and Seggelke:
http://www.schwenk-und-seggelke.de/englisch/index.php
To me Neidich sounds different on these instruments that he did on his Buffet Grenadilla Buffets. But whether that has to do with the wood is a question which would be difficult to answer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKYH4vZzqDk
On this video he plays a Baermann Ottensteiner copy at 1:21 and a Boehm boxwood instrument at 1:50
You can hear an obvious difference at 2:33 when he plays a Steinway :-)
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-02-19 20:26
Tony Pay wrote:
> So, it's not clear what you're asking. BOXWOOD usually means,
> simple 5+ key instruments.
That was my first thought as well. It should be noted that some of the high-end clarinet makers are now offering modern clarinets made from boxwood (Schwenk & Seggelke, probably others) so perhaps this is what the original poster is referring to.
>Someone here may tell you what is THE ACTUAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN >THE SOUND OF BOXWOOD INSTRUMENTS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS.
>
>People are like that, here.
>
>But my advice is, don't believe them.
Couldn't agree more. The whole "effect of material" debate has been rehashed here countless times and neither side is ever able to convince the other that they are right.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2013-02-19 20:33
It happens with other instruments and makes too. Especially violins. When two admirers remarked to Heifetz how beautiful his violin sounded, he walked over to it, opened the case, and said " I don't hear a thing".
richard smith
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2013-02-19 20:57
Liquorice,
Yes I was talking about those S&S intruments and I have Neidich´s playwithapro videos so
I was talking about them too.
I actually didn´t notice he played too different instruments on that video clip until you pointed it out. In the other play with a pro clip where he teaches his "clarinet basics" you can hear the tone of the second boxwood instrument better.
I wonder if he uses that boxwood clarinet when he plays more modern music because I would be interested to buy a similar instrument if the clarinet is good for that also.
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Author: brycon
Date: 2013-02-19 22:03
Quote:
I wonder if he uses that boxwood clarinet when he plays more modern music because I would be interested to buy a similar instrument if the clarinet is good for that also.
He plays Schwenk and Seggelke modern clarinets made of grenadilla, mopani, and boxwood for all sorts of music. Of course, he also has some period instruments made by S and S.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2013-02-19 22:41
One disadvantage of boxwood is that it isn't as stable or resistant to moisture as African blackwood.
This isn't so much of a problem with early music instruments with very limited keywork but would certainly not work so well with Boehm system applied especially if instrument used for long sessions.
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2013-02-19 22:50
Norman Smale wrote:
> One disadvantage of boxwood is that it isn't as stable or
> resistant to moisture as African blackwood.
> This isn't so much of a problem with early music instruments
> with very limited keywork but would certainly not work so well
> with Boehm system applied especially if instrument used for
> long sessions.
>
Would it be good enough for regular orchestral work?
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2013-02-19 22:58
I doubt it would really stand up to regular professional schedule.
Mechanical stability/reliability was almost certainly one major reason that all makers moved towards blackwood (some via cocus wood) as mechanisms became more complex.
Boxwood may work for an occasional or amateur level of usage but probably would need very regular oiling of the bore.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2013-02-20 07:27
I work for a clarinet maker and fully agree with Norman: boxwood has good acoustic qualities but is unstable, warps and has to regularly be rebored. Practicality has to be a factor. For example, I find that violet wood produces a wonderful sound on the clarinet and the oboe, but tends to crack; in that case, so much for that! We have had good luck with South African mopane wood. It has many of the qualities of boxwood while at the same time being far stabler.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Pastor Rob
Date: 2013-02-20 22:36
I have a CD of Neidich playing the Jeanjean etudes. On the cover he is holding a Rosewood clarinet. He sounds terrific with whatever he played.
Pastor Rob Oetman
Leblanc LL (today)
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