 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: William
Date: 2002-08-05 14:56
Ricardo Moreles (Principal Clarinetist with the NY Met) is pictured (on the front of the International Musician--AF of M monthly membership news letter--holding a low Eb clarinet that does not appear to be a full Bohem (????) Anyhone know what brand??? I heard that he discontinued playing the Opus and went back to Buffets (???)
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-08-05 15:46
It isn't a low eflat.
It is a seperate key that duplicates the low f/c natural key. . .EXCEPT it operates a special vent hole near the bell which raises the pitch of low f when opened.
Guy Chadash regularly builds this key for folks who ask.
Hope this explains it well enough.
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
The clarinet Ricardo is holding is a Selmer, although I am not sure who added the extra key.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-08-05 16:00
The Selmer Recital model has an optional bell vent to avoid the "bell" quality on E/B. The current version of the Buffet Elite model has a full-size hole below the E/B hole, for the same reason. Each of them has a pad operated by the register key, so that it's open for the low E and closed for the middle B. Obviously, a vented middle B didn't work.
Reform Boehm instruments all have a double hole operated by the F/C key. The second hold is halfway between the F/C and E/B holes, directly opposite the F#/C# hole. I think this is to give more complete venting for F/C.
Hat -
Thanks for the information on Ricardo's current instrument. I had heard that he no longer played Leblanc, but didn't know what he had gone to. Is it a Selmer Signature, a Chadash customization or a one-off custom job?
Ken Shaw
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-08-05 16:45
The double hole F/C key is seen on some bass clarinets and it was on a Noblet Bb clarinet that I played in 1950.
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-08-05 17:49
No, it isn't the same thing as the double f key on the bass clarinet (this particular solution is present on the Reform Boehm instruments. In any case, that double hole doesn't differentiate between the upper and lower registers.
And in this case, it appears that it isn't operated by the register key (the vent on Alessadro Carbonare's Selmer that I saw was operated this way). You choose whether the vent is open or not by using one or the other of the right hand low f keys.
Ken, I have no idea what Selmer Ricardo is playing (or even whether the instrument he holds in the photo is one he still plays)or who might have worked on it.
Hattner
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-08-05 20:52
I wonder occasionally which manufacturer will be the first to break with tradition and completely eliminate the bell-shaped bottom end of the Clarinet. As best I can determine, it was first stuck there by Denner for some reason I have never grasped. Perhaps he simply enjoyed resting it on the floor? Old artistic renditions and so-called "copies" of chalumeaux weren't so blessed but had straight bottoms, similar to a flute. Might that not reduce the difference in sound character between E and F, B and C? I truly feel that the bell is an unwarranted encumbrance which makes the instrument heavier and more expensive to produce, as well as introducing other unnecessary and undesirable factors. A much shorter straight section should function quite well. Or am I unknowingly still feeling the effects of narcotics?
Caution: I am not a professional instrument designer, although I once built a revolutionary twelve-hole ocarina, which disadvantageously required two players for performance.
Regards,
John
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2002-08-05 21:24
I also have looked at the Morales cover photo and tried to determine what brand it is. The photo looks retouched in the top joint area, perhaps to obscure the brand name so as not to advertise a particular brand. However, looking at the bottom section, above the bell, it certainly looks like a Buffet trade mark. Convince me that it is a Selmer.
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-08-05 21:53
Douglas, I am going to have to agree with you. It appears to be a Buffet clarinet. In addition, it is missing some markings that the Selmer Signature has.
It DOES appear that the photo has been retouched, except that one spot. Possibly because he is not using Buffet clarinets any more, but I couldn't speak to that with any knowledge.
Hattner
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Author: William
Date: 2002-08-06 15:20
I thought that he was holing a Buffet as well bassed on the rings and key "trademark" configurations. That's for the info on the extra key. BTW, if some of you have them, are they effective enough to become "got to have" equipement for today's clarinetist??
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