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RE: Albert or Boehm?

Author: Stewart Mennin
Date: 2001-02-08 23:51

The truth about Albert and Boehm? It's what you prefer and what you have and what you want to do that counts. I've been playing Albert for many years and prefer the sound. I can tell the difference when I hear it. The is a physicial difference in the bore size. I find the Albert sound for me, to be somewhat brighter and more colorful. Technically, the Boehm is better suited for some musical styles that require lots of alternate fingerings. The older generations of musicians played more Alberts, mostly for historical reasons. As more Boehms become available and popular, the use of Albert systems will decline, as per Bulgarian Wedding music popularized by Ivo Papasov. I believe Naftule Brandtwein used an Albert system and it sounds that way to me, the same with Itzikel Kramptweiss. Tarras used a modifed Albert system that had a lot of Boehm features. Occasionally I find problems making some complex fingering transitions on my Albert but not enough to deter me or to drive me to seek to transfer to Boehm. I learned on the Boehm and switched to Albert and prefer less machinery between my hands and the wood of the instrument. It is a personal preference and ultimately that is what counts. What other people play shouldn't make any difference, you have to choose.

Stewart Mennin

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