The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: A pretty good Spohr No.2 performance

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-10-04 00:55

If I may clarify. I don't want to imply one is better than the other. It is merely a matter of direct experience (and may have solely been a singular experience that no one else ever experienced) that the internal pitch characteristics of my two Wurlitzer Oehler horns (A and Bb) required almost virtually no adjustments from the bottom of the horn to the uppermost altissimo.

Also I say that as one who sold those horns to a Berlin retailer eighteen years ago because the overall pros and cons to the entirety of my clarinet experience brought me back to Buffet (at the time).

The trickiest (and most overlooked) aspect is what one does with the approach to the reed/mouthpiece combination and the subsequent COMPLETELY DIFFERENT approach to how you generate sound. I come to this conclusion combining my experience with what happened to members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (not shabby players by anyone's estimation). They were inspired (and more than subtly required) to play Oehlers for a short period of history for some key Germanic pieces. Yes, they were able to switch from system to system with the piece on the program, but they struggled mightily with producing a satisfying sound (and satisfaction with HOW they produced that sound) for themselves. They found Zinner mouthpieces of a high density orange hard rubber that allowed them an easy enough transition from the Boehm experience and allowed the conductor to get what he wanted. However, it never "worked" for them because it had to be an equivalent rather than a full change.

I hasten to add my deepest gratitude to Bas De Jong of Viotto mouthpieces for recently providing the education necessary to fill in that last piece of the puzzle (though I wish it had happened about thirty years earlier). : -)

The Viotto mouthpieces (N1) modified for French clarinet coupled with a 2 1/2 Classice White Master will give you a good idea what it's like to play Oehlers. And if you like that, just come up with additional $12,000 for a Wurlitzer.

..............Paul Aviles

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics