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Re: What does the French use?

Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2005-08-03 17:37

And, what's been left out is that the "English" horn is not really English, but rather named after a corruption of "angled" horn (as it used to be made with a bend in the middle rather than a crook at the top). Just had to add that for completeness.

The "Boehm" moniker got attached to the current "common" clarinet system when many others (principally Hyathcinth Klose, but he had collaborators as well) adopted the "spectacle" ring system of the Boehm flute to the traditional six, ten or twelve key design of the clarinet. The final form of the "Boehm" clarinet (which ol' Theobald had absolutely nothing to do with, he being too busy designing the "crutch" for his system of flutes, a vital improvement that no one bothered to add) was worked out by Klose working alongside of the French manufacturers.

German "system" clarinets are "closer" to the original instruments in their basic form, with far more "cross fingerings" used in place of the purer arrangements available through the Klose-Boehm. So are so-called "Albert" system horns, which are really "original" clarinets with a few bells and whistles, to which the name of one of whose manufacturers (Albert) has been stuck.

(There are also a whole slew of bore differences, but they can vary widely on all three types of horns, so they are more of a wash. Blowing wise, a French style horn will take a softer and wider reed than a German style one in most cases. Naturlich, there are exceptions to this very broad rule of thumb.)

(And, speaking of thumbs, both the Albert and the Oehler style horns do not always have a thumb ring. That was the biggest part of the shock that I experienced between the two systems. You get used to that big, broad thumb ring on a Boehm, then find yourself "balancing" the horn to get the tiny little thumb hole tube on an Oehler just so.)

I've often heard it expressed (and I agree with the opinion) that the French style of horn is easier to play in flat keys, while the "simple" (non-Boehm styles) clarinets are easier to play in sharp keys. I agree with it to a certain extent, and the differing function of the first fingers on both hands can be a bit much for some to deal with. Nonetheless, the fact that I've managed to master all three in a more or less adequate fashion should give hope to others out there who want to try them and see.

If you want to "feel" the difference, there's no way other than to try one of the other horns. German "Oehler system" horns are hard to come by outside of Deutchland, but Amati makes one that's affordable ($900 street price). "Albert" horns are a dime a dozen (well, you get the general idea) on eBay, but you have to be careful that you don't get one that's either already cracked or cracked and poorly repaired. In either case, the "feel" and "response" will differ from the French style "Boehm" horn on which you have learned to play.

leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com

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