 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: William
Date: 2013-10-14 14:45
Could someone please give me a brief refresher course on the Mazzeo clarinet. At my old school where I volunteer, a beginning clarinetist brought in an old M clarinet that her grandfather used to play and I would like to be able to explain the alternative Bb, etc. I've read--many years ago--about his clarinet but never had one in my hands......thank you in advance.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-10-14 15:19
The main point was that you play throat Bb by holding the A key and pressing down the RH rings, which are linked to the side Bb hole that is normally opened by the third (from the bottom) RH trill key. The Bb that is produced is fuller and in tune, in contrast to a Bb using the A and register keys. It allows - indeed, as I remember, forces - routinely covering the RH holes as the player goes up or down over the break through Bb (which is meant to make crossing the break smoother).
Karl
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Author: ariel3
Date: 2013-10-14 15:58
If you will do an easy search of the the following, you will find a wealth of knowledge about the Mazzeo system.
Our own website.
Sherman Friedlands Clarinet Corner website - look up Mazzeo System.
I have played my Mazzeos for 40 years now - series 10 Selmers and love them.
Gene
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-10-14 19:03
The main problem you'll encounter on Mazzeo systems is you can't keep your right hand fingers down when playing open G, so any intervals with open G to the upper register B to F# will have to be played with all fingers off for open G and all the necessary fingers down for the upper note.
I don't know if the more basic versions of Mazzeo systems have a clutch (a knurled pin on the top joint) so the Mazzeo mechanism can be disengaged.
Do be sure you have an actual Mazzeo system clarinet which should be marked 'Mazzeo Model' or similar and were only ever made by Selmer Paris and Selmer USA and no-one else - some people have mistaken clarinets fitted with the forked Eb/Bb mechanism (with the 7th ring for LH finger 3) as being Mazzeo systems, which they most definitely are not unless they are fitted with the Mazzeo mechanism which is the linkage from the LH finger 2 ring key to the Bb trill key tonehole and usually have a covered thumbplate. A teacher in the next county told one of his pupils that a Centered Tone I let her borrow was a Mazzeo system and that it's no good for learning on, only because it had the forked Eb/Bb mechanism and articulated C#/G# fitted which he thinks makes it a Mazzeo system. I can only assume he saw a photo in Jack Brymer's book which has a closeup photo of a more upmarket Mazzeo system Selmer which happens to have the forked Eb/Bb and articulated C#/G#.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-10-14 19:14)
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2013-10-14 20:09
Chris: Selmer USA made a Bundy Mazzeo without the clutch pin so the mechanism was always engaged. I think they marketed them as Bueschers too.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-10-14 21:43
A full Mazzeo system that I overhaulled was the most difficult clarinet to work on and adjust. However, this Selmer instrument had the very best wood and a very fine sound.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-10-14 22:25
What I like with the full Mazzeo systems is they have a LH low Eb key (also found on Selmer basset clarinets) and also articulated F#/C# so you can do a low E-F# or upper B-C# trill with full venting. Also allows a low Eb-Gb or upper Bb-Db slur.
I'd love to work on one of these as there are other linkages on these which I've never seen on full Boehms and would like to find out what they do.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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