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Re: Historical clarinets

Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2016-10-31 06:43

Hello Johan - regarding your question about mouthpieces, makers of replica classical period instruments usually make a hardwood mouthpiece to match the instrument they make. The mpc is adjusted to play in tune on the matched instrument.
And that is where the fun starts.
If you don't like the sound or playing characteristics of your instrument's accompanying mpc, it can be difficult finding an "aftermarket" replacement mpc that plays in tune on your replica period instrument.
In addition, at best, wood mouthpieces swell when you play them and their playing characteristics can change. At worst, the wood mouthpiece might crack. Every period wood mpc I have played on has eventually cracked.
This issue might seem less serious for those period players who make their own instruments and mpcs, but even then, there are cases where one of those players' mpc has cracked at the worst possible moment and they didn't have a good backup.
Baroque replica instruments often come with mpcs made of boxwood (like their original model's). I have a baroque C clarinet with a boxwood mpc and most of my chalumeau mpcs are boxwood. Boxwood swells more (and cracks more) than African blackwood.
I do not mention this to dissuade you, but rather point out that with period instruments, mpcs are not standardized to the degree they are with modern clarinets. (You asked about fingering. Fingering is not standardized on period replicas either and can change from instrument to instrument.)

With many period players, what keeps them going is their passion for early repertoire and its aesthetics. But even if early music doesn't excite you at present, playing early clarinets can actually kindle an interest, if not love, of
early music.

Simon

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