 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Arthur Jacob Arshawsky
Date: 2013-11-27 01:36
I just realized that some clarinets posses 18, 19 or even 20 keys instead of 17. Why that much keys ? Do they come with lower or higher notes ? or is just for the fast and difficult passages ? As example, the Tosca from buffet clarinet line has 19 keys but is it really worth the price ?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-11-27 07:07
18 key Boehm systems usually have the LH Ab/Eb lever which duplicates all the RH pinky touches - a very useful key to have in my opinion.
Toscas and Yamaha CSGIIIs have a low E/F correction key in addition to that (making them 19 key) so those notes can be played up to pitch as they're normally on the flat side. On the Tosca it's an extra touchpiece by the RH F/C key and on Yamahas it's a RH thumb key which works in a similar manner as seen on Oehler system clarinets.
Older Selmers, Leblancs and Buffets were offered as 19 key, 7 rings which had the forked Eb/Bb mechanism (the extra ring for LH3), the LH Ab/Eb lever and articulated C#/G# mechanism with an extra C-Db/G-Ab/high E-F trill key for RH2 (duplicates the action of the LH C#/G# key). 20 key clarinets (or full Boehms) have all that lot, plus a low Eb key.
As for Toscas, I really don't think they're worth the price!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-11-27 12:33
Chris -
The Selmer Recital has an automatic E/F correction mechanism. It's complex, but reliable enough that Ricardo played one for a while in Philly. The Oehler mechanisms I've seen require the use of the right thumb to press a key, and the Tosca has a key for the right little finger.
Is there a reason why other models are manual rather than automatic? Is it perhaps patented?
Ken Shaw
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-11-27 13:08
I think the automatic version seen on the Recital is better as it's unconscious (some Buffet Elites had a similar mechanism, but the difference is which end of the speaker key operated it), whereas the manual version (full Oehlers and some reform Boehms and CSGIIIs) means you have to physically use your already tortured right thumb to operate it.
The most obvious reasons for fitting the manual version are it's simpler (no linkage between the joints) and can be used out of choice.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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