 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2015-03-09 15:34
I was wondering if anyone could recommend any old sheet music stores or used book stores that might sell old clarinet music in Paris (France). I am looking for some of the old Klose and Berr solos (if I can find them, I figure no better place than Paris) as well as some of the more obscure Paris Conservatory solos de concours. Any help, guidance, or otherwise would be greatly appreciated.
I plan to stop by the Leduc and Billaudot, assuming they have "store fronts" to shop at. We'll see. Any other suggestions readily welcomed.
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2015-03-09 16:05
Go to the Vandoren store (56 Rue Lepic).
Second floor is all sheet music.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-03-09 20:12
I have been helping a friend turn closets full of old music (piano, organ, vocal, pop, classical) into a bit of extra cash by listing a few at a time on eBay. It is a painful, time consuming process to do well (where prospective buyers can actually tell what they'll get- condition, contents, all pages there, etc). And then how do you price it? Shipping costs? Even the envelopes to hold it aren't free. Media mail? eBay and Paypal fees? At the end of the day you don't get much $$ for your effort on most printed music.
Perhaps one day this bottleneck will be reduced, at least for sellers with 100's or 1000's of items. Robots anyone?
Until then, there will still be physical places with piles or boxes of organized or unorganized music, or books, or antiques, or _____. And the opportunity to find a few treasures for those willing to make the effort. Though it's better to approach such adventures not knowing what you might take home, rather than looking for particular items.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2015-03-09 20:23)
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2015-03-10 00:39
Yes, when I used to live in the Washington DC area I was a member of the ICA and spent many hours in the library at UMD and have photocopies of the pieces that I now look for originals. I have found a few 19th century clarinet pieces that are really, really cool and a real pleasure to find in a store.
Incidentally, I am heading to Paris because I now live only 2-3 hours away! I plan on making a habit of it!
Going to visit some friends over the weekend, but going to take Friday off and peruse the shops, shall we say. Thus, my original query - any more ideas on old book/music shops to check out?
Thanks for all the other suggestions!
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-03-10 10:09
Please give us a report after your trip. This sounds like a really fun quest.
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Author: FreddyG
Date: 2015-03-10 12:32
Call or mail Jean Marie Paul at the Vandoren sheet music store in 56 Rue Lepic. He is an expert on clarinet repertoire in general and had a lecture about rare Concours pieces in 2013 Assisi Clarinetfest. He is very enthusiastic and helpful and maybe he also help you find a store for used old books and sheet music. Flute de Pan in Rue de Rome a very good sheet music store and you can search their music online. Their neighbor Amoroso is also a very good store. Have a nice trip to Paris!
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-03-10 20:53
I've thought for years that Paris would be a great vacation stop, don't know if it'll ever happen. But... I'd never even considered the music store possibilities. It does sound neat.
I wonder if any stores like that in New Orleans survived Katrina.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2015-03-16 20:30
Report from Paris -
Went to Vandoren and then up Rue de Rome. Vandoren was a really special visit - spent about 2 hours talking with Jean-Marie about all sorts of things clarinet. He was telling me about his encounters with Francaix (and a new revision that recently came out, done by his pianist daughter - the piano reduction is not actually playable and the clarinet part/tempi are fixed as best as possible) to some rare clarinet manuscripts he's found recently to a whole assortment of other things. They have a lot of music but what was really neat was the amount of OLD music they have - well, had, I bought a bunch of it (like an original issue of the de la Nux contest piece)! I couldn't leave without getting a box of the new V21's to try. Reeds there were expensive. Music was pretty expensive too and I spent a fortune but it was on titles I couldn't have found anywhere else. Really friendly, although the receptionist didn't speak much English (not that she needed to, all she did was ring me up but definitely cordially).
Up on Rue de Rome is La Flute de Pan which has almost an equally impressive selection of music. Quite a few titles that Vandoren didn't have but all newer publications, none of the older stuff. Very friendly staff. Still worth a visit for anyone looking for sheet music.
The music area is all up and down Rue de Rome. There are a ton of string instrument shops that do repairs that were pretty fun to look into. I stopped in at Music et Arts, the only wind shop I found other than a Jupiter show room, but they didn't have much to look at and the two guys behind the counter were extremely busy so I left, as it was near closing time. There was a neat store further down the street of a guy who restores old wind instruments. Pretty neat shop and quite a few 1800-1850 clarinets at not outrageous prices (too bad I had already spent all my money that I brought for music stuff!).
The last shop I bought at was a little shop next to Flute de Pan which had really good prices on sheet music - I think it was called Arrioso. They had a smaller but still decent selection of clarinet titles and a bunch of pieces with 25-75% discounts (I guess they were trying to move them?). For instance they had the Chanyes Concerto for €10 - this is a €55 piece from the Leduc catalog. Again, very friendly but their focus was on choral music and operas.
So that's it from the music side. Fun trip, gotta get back soon.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-03-16 21:39
Thanks for the update. It's good to know that places like that still exist and remain vital!
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Author: claaaaaarinet!!!!
Date: 2015-03-18 06:23
Thanks for the virtual Parisian shopping trip, clarinetist14. May I ask how you ended up in your current European location?
I met Jean-Marie at the Vandoren shop one time, too. Meeting him gave me a new appreciation for Vandoren as a company because his job there seems to be mostly open-ended reseach and archiving, as opposed to being profit driven. He seems exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly.
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2015-03-18 19:10
I transfered to the European offices of my employer for a three year assignment here in Luxembourg. I am an engineer. Yes, Jean-Marie looks like he has a real "dream job" for sure!
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