 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Effer
Date: 2001-10-02 00:20
Does anybody know about the history of the Eb Clarinet? Or where to find information on it? I want to do a paper on the effer, but I do not know any background of it.
Thanks,
Effer
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Author: Effer
Date: 2001-10-02 02:49
Sorry, I learned "Effer" is short for Eb Clarinet.
Effer
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Author: IHL
Date: 2001-10-02 03:39
The history of the Eb goes as far back as the Bb. Back in the clarinet's infancy (before modern key systems were introduced) clarinets were made in different sizes for each scale, including the Bb and Eb sizes. When key systems like Bohm were introduced around the 1800s a single clarinet could easily play more than one scale, so less sizes had to be made. Now you will most commonly find A, Bb and Eb clarinets, although other sizes still exist.
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Author: dennis
Date: 2001-10-02 04:41
Effer....or eefer (whichever pronounciation you prefer)....E. Michael Richards wrote several books on clarinet. One, E flat clarinet of the 21st century, should have some historical info and references. Pamela Weston is another author (authoress). David Pino (Southwest Texas State prof of clarinet) wrote Clarinet and Clarinet Playing. It has significant chapters on clarinet history. Another book is The Clarinet, A Cultural History by Kurt Birsak.
Doubt you'll find them at the local library. Try a major university Music Library or break open the cookie jar and buy any/all of them from Gary Van Cott, a SNEEZY sponsor.
Happy reading !
ps.......music libraries have back issues of The Clarinetist......start researching
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-10-02 05:12
The actual "history" of the Eb clarinet is unfortunately sketchy, at best. Most scholarly texts (aside from the ones previously mentioned) including Oskar Kroll's book (The Clarinet), Geoffrey Rendall's fine book (The Clarinet), and Jack Brymer's 1976 book (Clarinet) all have minimum information on the actual history.
What is generally agreed upon is that the Eb clarinet made its first appearance in the late 18th century operas of Cherubini, and was later used fairly consistantly in the Prussian military bands from 1805 onward.
As there is much more "historical" and traceable information on the D clarinet beginning the Molter concertos of 1747, and progressing forward to the Overture for 2 clarinets and corno di Caccia (all in D) in 1748 by Handel, my suggestion might be to concentrate more heavily on the clarinet in D.
Also, the history of our instrument cannot overlook the importance of the early clarinets in C as well...
Perhaps a study/contrast/history of all of the above is a better solution...GBK
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2001-10-02 12:06
Although not an answer to your question I have just finished restoring an antique eefer which I picked up a couple of months ago. It is probably between 100 and 130 years old and is almost definitely Czech or from Eastern Germany.
The keywork is pretty much on the Baermann pattern which is a very basic Albert system with a few keys missing. It has of course got a register key and octave vent tube, A and G# keys with the G# over the A, a chromatic Eb/Bb key but no side Eb/Bb, a single trill and a middle F/F# vent key. The bottom half has 2 rings on 2nd and 3rd fingers which operate a vent key automatically, an Eb/Ab key, an F/C key for the right pinky and an F#/C# key and E/B key for the left pinky.
The E/B key does not play F#/C# independently suggesting an older instrument than the normal Albert system and it is missing the side Eb/Bb which is a pain. There are no pin springs at all, they are all leaf springs soldered in place and very touchy in adjustment. Likewise there are no pivot screws or screw in rods. They are all shepherds crook style rods which are fairly common for the age range mentioned above and are also quite common in Czech made instruments especially bassoons.
The keywork and body rings are very similar to a Bb instrument I have which was made by Kohlert in the very early years of their clarinet manufacturing ie. 1870 with a serial number of 29.
The instrument does not have a makers mark or serial number so any attempt at identification is circumstantial but I know of the previous 2 owners the immediate past owner purchasing the instrument immediately after WWII from a much older player who was quite elderly and had owned the instrument from his youth.
Although not exactly the answer to your question it may help to know some technical details of an older horn to use as an example.
Mark Pinner
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-10-02 14:54
I generally agree with the "history" of the Eb soprano clar as given above, that is, it is much the same as those in Bb and C. Early 1800's models are common in antique inst. museums for the same "transpositional" reasons. Having visited several European [and US] museums, I looked in their catalogs, and yes the entire "soprano" group C, Bb, A, D, Eb, even high Ab and B were known. My C Sachs "Hist. of Mus. Insts" gives a good summary and so prob. does the Groves Dictionary, both should be in libraries. An interesting question! Don
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-10-02 19:01
Per Groves, Vol 4, pg 437-9, [cl history], music was written for C cl in 1710, for D in 1725 [the 2 key cls], believe they mentioned Eb shortly later. Look it up! Don
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