 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-08-04 21:01
I,ve just had a go on a fairly new Buffet RC Prestige Basset-clarinet in A.
One feature which struck me was a design for the speaker/throat B flat key which, quite rightly, separates these 2 functions. It seems an excellent system, giving a true B flat with the 'usual' fingering and enabling the speaker hole to be put wherever they want (it's a surprisingly long way away from the usual place)
I can't understand why they don't offer this key on standard instruments. It works so well I would be tempted to make it the normal option.
Jez
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-08-04 22:37
Jez - you've been playing more Richard Strauss lately?
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-08-05 15:39
Jez -
There are two basic designs: (1) a completely separate hole for the throat Bb (or a mechanism that opens the next-to-top trill key, as on the Mazzaeo design), so that the register vent is closed for the throat Bb, and (2) an extra hole that opens in addition to the register vent (as in the Stubbins SK mechanism).
See my second posting on the thread at http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=69195&t=69094 for more.
I think the reason this has not caught on is that a decent Bb is available on the standard instrument, the mechanisms are complex, and some of those with a separate hole are inherently unreliable. Also, on most, but not all of them, you have to have your left thumb all the way off the ring, which makes register crossings bumpy in, for example, the Bb/B/Bb/B figures in the Debussy Premiere Rhapsody.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-08-05 15:51
Ken is right. Listen to the best of the best (Marcellus, Wright, Brody, Combs, etc.) produce the 'normal' bflat. It sounds as good as any other note on the instrument 99% of the time.
Mechanisms designed to solve problems that only barely exist usually cause new problems. This is the case on the bflat clarinet with those throat mechanisms.On bass clarinet, of course, it's a different story.
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-08-06 03:20
diz,
I wasn't using this thing myself, just looking.
Ken & HAT,
The Buffet system to which I refer is still worth a look. It doesn't use the thumb-ring to choose which key to open, but, I think, the A key.
It seems to me that the most advantageous aspect of this idea is not the improved B flat (I've got big hands, I always use the side key so this is no improvement) but being able to have the speaker hole in the optimum position, rather than being compromised to produce a note that it really shouldn't have to. The difference between the positions was about a whole centimetre, a huge discrepancy. How much difference is that making to the intonation between registers? How many flares & tapers & undercutting does it take to keep the 12ths about right with the hole that far away from its best position?
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Author: ken
Date: 2002-08-06 04:16
Jez, the point you make about the advantage of being able to relocate the register vent (freed of its Bb function) and possible improvement in tuning is very interesting.
I believe a split function register vent/ Bb has been a been a feature of the schmidt reform boehm instrument for more than 50 years.
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-08-06 12:16
I would also say that Carbonarre, Boeykins, Moragues and people like Desplus generally tend to shy away from extra keywork. Pascal Moragues of the orchestre de Paris has most amazing throat notes I have heard in some time. I personally see no advantage to the added mechanism except added maintenance and extra repair costs. The normal tuning of throat notes is usually quite high but they are also the most fliexible notes on the instrument and can be made to be tuned to various shades with the covering of holes. However, this may be an interesting clarinet but usually added keys means additional costs, quite like air conditioning on a K car. >>DD<< PS--- Added mechanism generally means more weight as well...
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