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The Ethnic Clarinet The C4 standard

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Re: which clarinet?

Author: Merlin Shepherd
Date: 2004-09-02 18:49

The question is (as always) what sound do you want?

I use a late 19th Century French C instrument and the system pre-dates either the Boehm (correctly called the Klosé) or the Oehler. It is technically called the "Simple System" (not the "Albert", as the Belgian Albert modified the simple system) and it sounds VERY different to either Oehler or Boehm. Many players use the Boehm because they are easier to get hold of, play in tune, and sound more like what the modern ear wants to hear. I also use a Vandoren Austria lay mouthpiece with a black master number 4 reed. It works for me and sounds very "old fashioned" which is what I like to sound like.

If you prefer a modern sound then go French (Boehm). Most people do. German (Oehler) has to my ear a better sound for Klezmer, but again it is different to the old sound.

If you want to hear how my 19th Century Simple systen C sounds, then listen to Budowitz "Wedding Without a Bride" or Frank London's Klezmer Brass Allstars "Brotherhood of Brass" (although this also has the more modern sound of Matt Darriau) or Introducing Sukke.

It is different, mind you, we all hear and therfore play in different ways....

speak soon

Merlin

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