 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Mitch K.
Date: 2003-01-02 23:00
Does the entire clarinet section of the LA Phil play the Wurlitzer system clarinet? (or Oehler, I don't know which Michelle Zukovsky plays). I've heard from some clarinetists that Michelle and the Gang are playing them, but I find it difficult to believe that there are four or five clarinetists of that caliber, trained in the U.S., and playing in the U.S. on that system of clarinet--NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT; I merely find it curious.
Thanks,
Mitch King
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brandon
Date: 2003-01-02 23:37
I believe that Levee uses the Reformed-Boehm. Zukovsky uses the regular German system Wurlitzer. I got this info off the Wurlitzer website, and it does not say anything about the others in the Phil. I know this doesn't help much, but it at least answered the question of what Zukovsky plays.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lori
Date: 2003-01-03 01:51
I wouldn't bet my life on it, but I don't think they're all playing on Wurlitzers.
As far as I know (this is what I heard from Kalman Bloch, Michelle's dad- he used to be principal of the Phil, too!) Michelle was in Europe a few years ago and heard the Wurlitzer system and decided that she really wanted the sound she heard. So, she bought a couple and took a year sabbatical from the Phil. to learn how to play.
I met Monica Kaenzig, the Eb player, downtown LA a few months ago at R. D. Gilbert's where I believe she was trying out some Buffets.
I played with Kalman for about a year in his quartet, up until a few months ago, and he told us some stories about Michelle and the Philharmonic, and I'm pretty sure he would have mentioned it if they were all playing on Wurlitzers!
For what it's worth...
-Lori
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: larryb
Date: 2003-01-03 14:43
Need to distinguish between "Wurlitzer" (a distinguished brand name) and "Oehler/German System" (Oehler was once a brand, but now indicates a german style system).
Wurlitzer makes both "Oehler/german system" clarinets and "Reform Boehm/french style clarinets"
Zukovsky (I believe) plays Wurlitzer's german system.
Joseph Rabbai (Met Opera) plays Wurlitzer's reform Boehm system (I believe)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2003-01-03 15:34
Michele Zukovsky plays Oehler system instruments made by Wurlitzer. She also plays Oehler system instruments made by Yamaha. (They designed their Oehler instrument for her. The ones she plays, or at least played 20 years ago, were custom jobs.)
She told me that she switched from Boehm system Buffets when she studied with Leister, who told her she couldn't learn everything he had to teach unless she played the system he played. Kalmen Bloch told me she sounds more like Simeon Bellison (who played Oehler instruments) than anyone else.
I'm sure, from seeing pictures, that no one else in LA plays on Oehler system instruments. Like Brandon, I've read that Lorin Levee plays Wurlitzer Reform Boehm instruments. He was an amazing child prodigy, like Julian Bliss. I heard him play at age 8, tossing off the Spohr Concerto # 1 like it was nothing.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: james
Date: 2003-01-03 18:15
I am curious how karl leister couldn't teach her everything he knew if she didn't play german systems. I mean I know they are different when it comes to technique and maybe sound but is there much more difference than that? It's just surprising to see all these people playing german systems.
Like when I see the CSO. They all play on Wurlitzer's for the german rep because the CSO director suggested the idea. I could only see this as amazingly difficult, like learning a new language or leaning how to walk all over again.
I guess once again it just proves how amazing some professional clarinetists are.
(i do have to say, learning about clarinet, ect gets more interesting ever day i study)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: larryb
Date: 2003-01-03 18:44
I wonder if the audience really can tell the difference between the CSO on german vs. french systems.
If the musicians feel better playing one style vs. another, then maybe that has an impact somehow on the quality of their playing.
The whole issue of national clarinet systems seems quite irrelevant - before Oehler, the germans played something different; before boehm, so did the french. If you go all the way back to denner, everyone played the same thing (the handful that played clarinet back then) or slightly different variations of the sam
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2003-01-03 21:17
At the ClarFest in Columbus a few years ago, I asked Larry Combs about playing German music on the Wurlitzer instruments. He said the section did so because the Wurlitzers produced a sound that Solti wanted for German music, which couldn't be produced on Boehm system instruments, or at least could be produced only with difficulty.
At Columbus, I played Bb and A Oehler instruments brought by Wurlitzer, with their mouthpiece and reed. The fit and finish was amazing, and I got what seemed to me to be a "German" sound. However, they instruments were extremely resistant, at least with the mouthpiece and reed they supplied, and I found that I couldn't get as much variety of tone as I could on my Buffet. I asked Larry about this, and he agreed that with the Wurlitzers, it's a "blow here, the instrument does it's thing and the sound comes out there" process.
Sabine Meyer, of course, makes any sound she likes on her Wurlitzers, but I think you have to grow up on them.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D DOW
Date: 2003-01-04 14:13
Dear Ken,
I also found the Oehler clarinets to be something of a dissapointment in they did not offer the "freedom" which I look for in a set up the clarinet. I was also comparing it a great deal to the way my own clarinets play(Boehmn).
In the final regard I felt they did not play the way I expected
yet find Boehmn and Oehler not so diametrically different as others do in terms of tonal quality...
I work in a band with an Oehler player and she has no trouble in matching pitch wise and tone wise with my Boehmn, and after years of debate you simply have to play the beast and make it sound the way you want. I also know some pplayers who use a 5RV mouthpiece and sound like a german clarinet....
Sincerely
D Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Suzanne
Date: 2003-01-05 00:01
Monica Kaenzig was my undergrad teacher (amazing musician and inspring instuctor, I might add) and plays buffets. Michele is the only one who plays German system.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
