Author: Enatural
Date: 2018-03-20 14:54
Yes, I found it interesting, that this key was obsolete by 1900, Carl Baermann included its description in his Clarinet school book OP.63 in 1863, where he spoke about his father Heinrich Baermann's playing and development of the clarinet. He describes the parts of the clarinet, MP, barrel, top joint, bottom joint, and bell. In his description of the top joint he includes this unusual B/F key which I have on my little old F clarinet. As the book is in German I don't know if it is B or Bb.
It says in the Carl Baermann reprint book 1918 that this information is excluded by Gustave Langenus, because it caused modern clarinetists confusion. So perhaps that is why there are no photos on the internet, and this key option is missing from 'The Woodwind Fingering Guide' web site.
I hope to be able to play this clarinet soon when it is repaired, then I will know the key function in the lower registers of the clarinet. But I had hoped that someone would have known about the key and how it was used in the higher Altissimo ranges. I hope this knowledge has not been lost.
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