 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-21 21:36
Hi,
I’ve made a video review of my new Chinese clarinet in the key of C Moresky E201. In the final part, there’s some musical examples:
https://youtu.be/Gnn8_VwOt9M
Post Edited (2020-02-25 15:50)
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-02-22 05:38
It's over 20min long, why don't you just write a paragraph here for us?
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-22 08:43
Hi donald,
Thanks for your opinion. What length of such video would you find appropriate to watch it?
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-02-22 10:30
Well, to be perfectly honest it's worth about 3 minutes of my time, sorry. It's not about YOU, it's about the C clarinet and I'm quite happy to learn that it's a good or great instrument. Or not. I don't need 20 minutes to learn that since YOU have gone to the bother... that's the whole idea of a "review".
Post Edited (2020-02-22 10:33)
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2020-02-22 11:11
Great video. Right from the beginning I was surprised by the nice clear sound. As for video length, some of us are crazy and watch hour long videos of interviews talking about clarinet stuff. I’m one of those crazy people. That being said, the shorter your video, the wider the audience appeal.
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-22 11:12
There (in the initial cut of the video) WAS a mistake at 1:22, I said Buffet makes no clarinets in C but they actually lists two on their website.
Post Edited (2020-02-25 16:25)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2020-02-22 11:46
I'd really appreciate a short 1-paragraph review of the instrument. I'm looking for a C clarinet but my time is limited and I really don't have the time to look up a 20+ minute video.
Thanks.
Tony F.
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-22 12:17
Hi Tony F,
Thanks for your opinion. You can scroll, scrub and do a lot of things with this video to make it short. I will definitely take count of opinions regarding length of the videos people want to watch in the future, but for now it is what it is, and no text version will be there, at least made by me.
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-02-22 13:15
You are reviewing an instrument, and initially thought Buffet didn't make C clarinets??????? Nice that you thought to correct this, but it kind of disqualifies your opinion somewhat as this is such basic knowledge.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2020-02-22 16:59
How is the intonation? Have you checked it with a tuner? I am particularly concerned with the clarion and altissimo registers.
Thanks,
HRL
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2020-02-22 17:21
I agree with donald that it is odd that the reviewer was not aware of the Buffet C clarinet models, but feel obliged to point out to him (donald) that the fact that he has not bothered to watch the reviewer's review tends to not only disqualify his (donald's) opinion "somewhat", but indeed "totally". Watching the video first would seem to be pretty "basic", and the necessity of pointing that out is also pretty basic, which makes it appear rude. By all means watch the video, consider the points raised in the review and then make relevant comments if you feel you must.
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-22 18:09
Hi Hank,
In the last section of the video I play some examples, you can flash forward to it and make your own opinion. Behind the scenes I checked if both with tuner and tone generator, so my conclusions regarding the tune are reasonable. Please be aware that I had my hands on only one sample, others of a kind can be not the same.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-02-22 19:52
Dear Hank, I don't know anything about this particular clarinet, but I'm very happy with my Ridenour C clarinet, also made in China but with the ministering presence of the excellent Tom Ridenour. I've been told it's price has shot up though. Well in tune, but for its altissimo register which is a bit flat with my Clark Fobes mouthpiece. As for the Chinese clarinets going for 80$, an innocent question: what do you do with them when they need repadding? Throw them away like old razer blades? The repadding would cost three times as much as the instrument!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-22 21:42
Hi ruben,
I remember you are from Europe? (I may be wrong, sorry if I am) Are clarinets in C key freely available in stores in Europe? I don’t mean Ridenour now, any other C clarinets? When I was pointed today that Buffet has their own C clarinet (without any description on their website or catalogue number, just “Oh we have it”), it was a complete surprise to me, because Buffet is such a mess (and Ridenour made homework right, so I know there is a Ridenour C but don’t know there is a Buffet C. And even D! Has anybody ever heard of D clarinet? Oh my… )
Post Edited (2020-02-22 21:43)
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-22 23:02
And I’ve found this damn Buffet in C on WWBW, it costs ~$8000 what makes my review even more useful than it was intended!
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-02-23 00:16
dear Igalkov: I'm in Paris, France. There no C clarinets in music shops in Paris. Selmer and Buffet still make them and they cost a fortune and are not really much better than the Ridenour ebonite. Sometimes you can get one second-hand here. The Leblanc Spirit (or maybe Esprit: I can't remember) are EXCELLENT and usually go second-hand for about 500 euros.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-02-23 02:04
In the US, D Clarinets are fairly well known as historically important instruments, and performances on them turn up with some regularity at clarinet fests, grad recitals, and similar events. To quote from a recent study by Corinne Alyssa Smith ("The Clarinet in D," Florida State University), "Some of the most well-known orchestral excerpts for E-flat clarinet were originally written for the D clarinet, including Strauss's Till Eulenspiegel, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and Firebird, Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin, and Mahler's fifth and sixth symphonies." Some of the earliest compositions for solo clarinet and orchestra are the six concertos written in the 1740s by the German composer Johann Melchior Molter. These have been performed and recorded throughout the world. The scores of at least 4 or 5 of them are readily available, as are several YouTube and CD recordings by players such as Wolfgang Meyer, Kari Kriiku, Jost Michaels, Henk de Graaf, Thomas Friedli, Lazlo Horvath, and Gioele Pizzuti.
Many German and Austrian companies, including Wurlitzer, Wolfgang Dietz, Hammerschmidt, Schwenk and Seggelke, and Leitner and Kraus offer D clarinets in their regular line of production. Leblanc offered Boehm D clarinets for many years, and today Buffet and Steven Fox continue to offer them. To seasoned Eb players, parts for clarinet in D are a not unfamiliar sight. (See Peter Hadcock's book, Orchestral Studies for Eb Clarinet).
Post Edited (2020-02-24 21:00)
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-23 08:32
Thanks seabreeze, that’s amazing! I recall now one of the E flat parts was hand-transposed to E flat from something else, now I think it was a D cause it was either Till or The Rite of Springs. Maybe it’s time to dig deeper into history aspects of clarinet I miss...
May I ask you one more question? On AliExpress there’s also a lot of G clarinets, both German and Boehm systems but mostly German… What are these?
Post Edited (2020-02-23 09:03)
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2020-02-23 18:43
On AliExpress there’s also a lot of G clarinets, both German and Boehm systems but mostly German… What are these?
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G clarinets are often used in Turkish folk music. Most native players use simple (not German) system clarinets.
Here is Ismail Lumanovsky playing a G clarinet:
https://youtu.be/qZ58Qjv5pgQ
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-02-23 19:58
Yes, for the classically trained player, the G clarinet is full of surprises. Steven Fox makes one in the regular Boehm system but most of the others come in simple or Albert system. They can be played with a mouthpiece designed for a Bb/A soprano clarinet, but the traditional G clarinetists use a much more open facing with softer reeds and a variable embouchure to play the undulating scale pitches of Greek and Turkish music. The sound is very different from what would be used in a symphony orchestra, and a new player would best spend some time listening, singing, and dancing to the appropriate musical idioms before attempting them on the clarinet. Performances will sound very sour if the sound, rhythm, and texture are not just right. The G clarinet seems to have descended from the more classically oriented Clarinet d'Amour (also usually pitched in G), which apparently had a very short life in European classical music.
https://www.bandestration.com/tag/g-clarinet.
Post Edited (2020-02-24 20:55)
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-23 21:39
rmk54, seabreeze, jdbassplayer — thank you! Sounds intriguing
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-02-24 00:30
If anyone is curious to hear the difference between the clarinet in G and the clarinet d'amour (or d'amore) in G, here is a performance of Partias for 2 clarinet d'amours (or is the plural clarinets d'amour?) written by the Belgian composer Henri Joseph DeCroes (1758-1842). DeCroes also wrote concertos for (higher-pitched) clarinet that are very much worth performing today.
Albert Rice goes more into the clarinet d'amore in his book on the clarinet in the classical period of European art music.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Henri+Joseph+De+Croes+Partias+for+two+Clarinetti+d'Amore
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-02-24 13:55
Graham Thomas - how do you know I haven't watched the clip yet? Aha, you DON'T KNOW. That's it.
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2020-02-24 21:04
igalkov
Thank you for the lengthy and informative review. One question - how many hours did Vladimir, your master technician, spend on getting the clarinet play-ready?
Did he just adjust pad heights and spring tensions or did he replace pads, adjust tone holes, recork tenons, etc?
The review of two inexpensive Bb clarinets here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uOClLW4Adg bears
comparison. A lot of repair work was needed to make at least one of them half-decent.
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-24 22:35
Hi Bennett,
Thank you very much!
Yes, it was the only work done. He also bend some keys for better ergonomics. No other things you’ve mentioned was needed. I wish to say it again: the clarinet was completely ready to play, with no air leaks or something like this. The keys around left hand ring finger was pretty close to each other so finger touched them, but I could solve it myself. I just knew Vladimir’s possibilities to unfold the very best of any instrument, so I brought it to him.
But please take in count that there’s can be a huge difference between samples, I don’t think there’s any quality control at all. I saw a feedback of other items in the store that there was a rust on the keys, for example, of heavily bended keys… But I ordered two barrels beside of clarinet, with a time difference, and they are pretty consistent. They are wooden and didn’t crack despite our ~25% humidity, and I play them for hours and hours every day.
P.s. I’ve seen that review you’ve mentioned. Mine lacks a pair of white gloves Moresky has a basic ABS colorful clarinets, they costs ~$50, my C one costs more than twice of that
Post Edited (2020-02-24 23:49)
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-25 15:50
I wish to thank all the community for a feedback. I completely re-edited the video, made it 25% shorter and removed any incorrect statements. Previous version is no longer available; the link to the video is renewed.
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Author: marsheng
Date: 2020-05-22 18:28
I liked your video and could fast forward if I needed. I'm probably going to buy a C key one soon from your review. What did your clarinet friend have to do to the one you got ?
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-05-22 19:34
Hi Marsheng, thank you very much! Now when time has passed, I really see it’s too long, I will definitely make future videos (if any) with that in mind.
The technician adjusted springs and height of keycups and rings. Just a normal adjusting, no any special work. Clarinet was completely playable without it, I just wanted push it to the max.
Also, you can also message the seller first, maybe he have some other models of C clarinet. As I understood, he has much wider production than presented in the store.
I had a chance to play it in orchestra since then, the tune is nice. Throats are a little high to me but I can completely manage it with resonance fingerings.
I said it the video and wish to say it once again: this one is China brand and samples can vary in very wide range from one to another. But there was NO infamous white gloves with the instrument — I think it’s a good sign!
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-08-29 16:35
Since we started to rehearsal Lucia de Lammermoor by Donizetti with a lot written in C, I should update my review with some “real life” ensemble experience.
And I’m in trouble because there’s nothing to talk about. “It just works”, that’s it. Intonation is impeccable. Usually I need much shorter barrels for my Buffets in Bb and A to tune well, but Moresky tunes fine for me with stock barrel (shorter). The tone is sweet and sound emission is easy. That’s all, end of report
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