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An affordable chalumeau

Author: ruben
Date: 2021-06-09 22:50

I would like to experiment a bit with a chalumeau, though I have little hope of ever becoming proficient at playing it. Do any of you know of an affordable chalumeau to mess around with before going on to a higher-quality instrument? What reeds can be used on a chalumeau?

rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com

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Re: An affordable chalumeau

Author: seabreeze
Date: 2021-06-10 00:25

Thomann Music sells a $29 maple wood chalumeau. It may be little more than a toy, but it could serve as an introduction to basic fingering and voicing experience while you decide if you want to spend much more for a Denner-style replica "mit Klappen" or at least two metal keys added) made by people like Stephen Fox, Grzegorz Tomaszewicz, and Thomas Carroll.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/thomann_chalumeau_maple_xaphoon_clarineau_saxonette.htm?ref=mobile.

https://gtmusicalinstruments.com/instruments/baroque-chalumeau.

Here is a larger list of craftspeople making chalumeaux today, along with a historical account of the instrument:

https://www.baltimorerecorders.org/chalumeau.html

Post Edited (2021-06-10 20:45)

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Re: An affordable chalumeau

Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-06-10 01:20

There's also the Jupiter Saxonett: http://jupitermusic.com/international/products/specialty/jrs700/

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: An affordable chalumeau

Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2021-06-10 03:02

It’s worth noting that in order to play music originally written for the instrument a chalumeau must have two keys to play Eb, E and F (or Ab, A and Bb for an F instrument). This is important because all Baroque chalumeau music requires these two keys. The keyless instruments are more correctly described as “pocket clarinets” and while they are perfectly fine for what they are, they are not very useful due to the limited range.

Now that doesn’t mean you have to spend thousands on a period instrument, there are modern chalumeau that have 3 keys giving you the range needed to play various pieces originally written for the instrument that do not cost too much. I own a Yan Clarineo, I’m not sure if they changed the design but mine is rosewood and has 3 keys. It also uses a standard Bb mouthpiece and reeds. It looks like they are about $219 on Amazon now. My Fiancé recently used it for a performance of a piece by Telemann and if you weren’t looking at it you wouldn’t know it wasn’t a period instrument.

If you just want something to mess around on a NUVO Dood or Jupiter saxonett can be fine, but know that the limited range will likely get boring very quickly. I highly recommend spending the extra money and getting something you can use in a Baroque ensemble or to read recorder music.

-Jdbassplayer

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Re: An affordable chalumeau

Author: ruben
Date: 2021-06-10 10:08

Thank you for very informed (historically informed, even!) answer.

rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com

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