 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-11-21 11:43
The hole is on the front of the clarinet rather than the back. The metal arm "wraps around" the clarinet from the back to the front. You press the register key with your thumb just like a regular one.
This design feature has come and gone several times in the history of the clarinet. It has appeared on both Boehm system and Oehler/Albert/Mueller systems. Theoretically, it would be less prone to get moisture in the hole although I've never had a problem with the current register key design. It seems to be mechanically weaker in that if there is a broken key on a clarinet, it will most likely be that wrap around key.
As far as I can tell, the last time that this was popular was the early 1930s and preceding decade or two. Even then it was not universally used.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-11-21 15:55
Most German clarinets have a semi-wraparound register key, placed slightly above the midpoint. Unlike the older Buffet keys, which had a long, sweeping shape, these have several short pieces that don't get bent easily and also have the pad come down straight on the hole, instead of sliding across.
Steve Fox uses the same design on his instruments.
One advantage is that there is no vent tube sticking down into the bore (or only a short one), so the swab can't get caught.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-11-23 07:53
My Prueffer Oehler has the semi-wraparound design, pad located a little above center. As Ken mentions, it's much sturdier than the full wraparound ones but I don't go around knocking into things with it :] Also have some Alberts with regular bottom register keys and find, as Dee notes, no particular problem with either design. Moisture problems usually occur near the middle tenon area -- notably C#/G# and Eb/Bb sliver(?).
I have no problem with calling it an octave key. Although I don't ordinarily refer to it as such, many folks do. As long as we mutually know what we're talking about we get along fine :]
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