 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: June
Date: 1999-02-05 22:54
I've always wondered why the left hand Ab-Eb key never became standardized on the clarinet. It would solve so many problems. Is it just stubborness? The additional weight is sometimes given as a reason....but that would apply to any of the new keys that have been added over the past two-and-a- half centuries. Does anybody have any idea?
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Author: Nan
Date: 1999-02-05 23:00
That's a great question! I have often wondered about that myself. If a youngster had that key from the beginning, wouldn't that make things a lot easier for her/him? No more getting caught on the wrong pinky!
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-02-06 04:58
I don't buy the weight argument. My A clarinet is longer and has not only an alternate Eb but another additional key on either side, plus the whole horn is a bit longer than my Bb and I don't notice all that extra weight at all.
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Author: June
Date: 1999-02-06 16:30
OK then. Can anybody tell me why we don't have the key as standard equipment?
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Author: Albert
Date: 1999-02-07 00:21
I don't know either! First of all, when the clarinet makers of yore decided that you needed the left hand keys to execute certain fingering combos, wouldn't they make left key for each right key! Why did the leave out the Eb key? Maybe we should ask the wacks at Buffet, Leblanc, Selmer, and Yamaha to explain themselves!! :o)
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Author: Ginny
Date: 1999-02-07 19:13
I got a Buffet Festival, which has the eb-ab on the left. I really like it, I don't get tangled sight reading nearly so much. I don't end up coming to a note without a finger to play it with. I don't notice weight being a problem either.
Some passages are much easier to play, too. Though I still occasionaly play the eb for c# on the left.
Ginny
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Author: Merry
Date: 1999-02-07 23:28
I agree, I still remember the first clarinet I saw with this additional key on and thinking what a brilliant idea it was. I would love to have that key but couldn't justify the extra $1000 for the Buffet Prestige of Festival line of instuments (before anyone claims they are not $1000 more, in Australia they are).
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-02-08 04:37
Albert wrote:
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I don't know either! First of all, when the clarinet makers of yore decided that you needed the left hand keys to execute certain fingering combos, wouldn't they make left key for each right key! Why did the leave out the Eb key? Maybe we should ask the wacks at Buffet, Leblanc, Selmer, and Yamaha to explain themselves!! :o)
The main problem overall is that there's no more room on the left pinky area to have another key without making it an uncomfortable reach in some direction. the only two possible places for it are there the Festival and, Prestige, Opus and Patricola clarinets have it. Or where Tim Clark makes his custom version out and down on the same post as the F/C key.
Some of the most famous clarinet players never had clarinets with the added Ab-Eb key and got by just fine with out it. And there aren't really all that many instances where it comes in handy where flip-flopping or sliding isn't impossible...
no.. i don't buy the weight argument.. if you can play A clarinet, you can play Bb with an added gram or two added.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-02-08 11:47
Daniel wrote:
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Some of the most famous clarinet players never had clarinets with the added Ab-Eb key and got by just fine with out it.
That's a specious argument. Some of the most famous clarinet plays got along just fine without <i>any</i> left hand keys, or indeed got along fine with just 5 keys.
Of course, it would well-nigh be impossible to play modern music on those clarinets, too.
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Author: June
Date: 1999-02-08 16:20
<Some of the most famous clarinet players never had clarinets with the
added Ab-Eb key and got by just fine with out it. And there aren't really all that many instances where it comes in handy where etc...."
I beg to disagre with Daniel. You miss the point. IF we had that key, many problems would be solved. Read Ginny's post. Look at some of the new Leblancs with the key added. It's placed in an inoffensive position, sort of slanted and out of the way unless you go for it. And what Mark said is absolutely true.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-02-08 19:17
But then again, no one knows just how they really truely played...
I was speaking of modern players in the last hundred yeras with the Böhm system. Not the earlier systems.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-02-08 19:21
I know both Buffet and Leblanc and Selmer have moved the post of the lever to the outside of the standard keys... but they actually part that you push is still in an awkward position that makes an troublesome reach. My original mention about the placement was appointing that matter not the fact that the old position caused a little gap between the E and F# levers.
and read my response to Mark's post. No point in me typing it twice.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-02-08 19:33
Daniel wrote:
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But then again, no one knows just how they really truely played...
I was speaking of modern players in the last hundred yeras with the Böhm system. Not the earlier systems.
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However, all instruments evolve over time. There have been many tries with different keys over the years, some being adopted, some not. The Ab/Eb key may not yet be in an ergonomically correct position, but someone will get there through experimentation. At that point it will become <i>de rigour</i>. The need is there; it'll just take a bit more time 'till we're all "used" to it.
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Author: Brian F.
Date: 1999-02-09 04:10
If you look to older instruments from probably the 1910s to about the 1940s such extra keys, in addition to others (forked Eb, articulated C#) were much more common place. My set of clarinets have full boehm key work (the aforementioned keys, plus low Eb on both). I love the system and find it very helpful. When I've leant out the instruments, others unused to the keys accidently trip over them, hence it is something you must adjust to. Also it often leads to the E and F# keys sharing a post which may lead to more adjustment problems. On Yamaha low C basses your left pinky recieves both the Eb Ab lever, and an alternate low D, quite a fingerful, but good once you adjust. If you are looking for an instrument with such keywork you may want to look for an old Selmer, or Conn, and in less expensive newer models Amati seems to often add the extra keys. The best argument I've heard is that when the boehm system first developed, part of its beauty came from its restraint-i.e. you must stop adding keys somewhere. Where you do however is another issue of personal preference.
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Author: Louis Dinoff
Date: 1999-03-02 13:56
You can get a Yamaha CL with a LH Ab-Eb key. I think I paid $300 more for the option. Most dealers do not know that this instrument is available. I got mine in a week.
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