nah you’d be surprised how you still need fingerless gloves, i march bass clarinet and marching with full gloves is impossible to play sixteenth note runs
I taught instrumental music in public schools for many years. I knew that plateau clarinets existed, but I did not see them often. It makes sense to have this horn available for younger players and those with smaller fingers. It should be noted that in schools most flutists use plateau flutes while advanced players and professionals use open-hole flutes. Good analysis.
@@JC-zl2cfnah it's fine, I have a bass clarinetist that constantly plays that even though bass clarinets have closed hole keys (minus the half hole, similar to Oboe)
To be clear, we’re not talking about the Eb alto clarinet, pitched a fifth below the Bb soprano clarinet. We are talking about the EEb contra-alto clarinet, pitched an octave below the Eb alto clarinet, a fifth below the Bb bass clarinet and a fourth above the BBb contrabass clarinet. Is that correct?
Plateau clarinets for anyone with arthritis can make playing clarinet fun again. My high school band teacher from the mid to late 1960s acquired a Leblanc LL plateau about 10 years ago. That clarient is a joy to play. As a repairman I see one or two a year mostly Vito's
@@chichow08 Rachelle I see there are a few listed on Ebay most are Normandy's made by Leblanc the cheapest one is around $ 550. I have played these and they are good clarinets. I also have arthritis and was able to relocate the thumb rests on my LL, R13 and Selmer series 9. I went to adjustable rests with neck strap loop. Good luck
I need one of these plateau lol. I'm learning clarinet late on at 52 but it's hurting my fingers due to arthritis and it's difficult making a good seal on some of the keys sometimes.
Hanson in the UK also make plateau clarinets. They have a student model and two professional models. I haven't played them so I cannot comment on what they are like but the student model would be a much less expensive option.
A good friend of mine just bought an Noblet plateau clarinet. He is having nerve issues in his thumb and forefigner of his left hand. It has allowed him to play clarinet, once again and he sounds as great as he always has.
When I was in 6th grade, I was given an open-holed oboe to learn on. It was so much harder, and I couldn't really play it. Then I got the normal plateau oboe, and I could play it immediately.
As someone who switched to bass clarinet halfway through sixth grade (from Bb) and has played bass clarinet for 6 years since, this video was immensely helpful because I would love to pick Bb back up and I need to decide what kind to get. The closed keys would definitely help me but I don't want the closed keys inhibit it from doing anything a regular clarinet could. Thanks for the video!
You may probably already know bass clarinet is in Bb also. Perhaps you might want to distinguish it by saying soprano clarinet, given the A clarinet is also common for orchestral playing.
Man the fact that you have been grinding RU-vid for almost as long as I have been alive is crazy, keep it up, and thanks for all the help in my contrabass endeavors
I've worked on several plateaux clarinets and they don't feel all that unusual under the fingers if you're used to playing oboe or cor anglais. The common myth I hear being 'you can't do a glissando on them' when it's possible to do the 'Rhapsody' as you demonstrated or 'Begin the Beguine' glisses on them no problem. I can do that gliss using the upper register C# fingering and then releasing the LH thumb (but still keeping the speaker key held open), then that gliss will go up to and stop on the top C without going any higher. You can help it around the middle of the gliss if it kicks by slowly uncovering and closing LH finger 3. I wish there were more affordable or intermediate level wooden plateaux clarinets available on the market like Malerne and Noblet (just to name a couple) used to make, not just entry level plastic ones like the discontinued Vitos and then nothing else until you go full-on pro level models with a pricetag to match like these current Uebels as they're often out of most players' means. I recently overhauled a Couesnon plateaux clarinet and had to do some work on some of the main action keywork to get better ventings as well as used cork pads as they can be made the ideal thickness to offer maximum venting so the lower register isn't stuffy. Shortening the LH thumbplate underlever to allow it to open more for a clear F# as well as allowing the open G vent to open as much as possible (but without clattering against the underside of the throat A key) is a must on most plateaux clarinets as they used some of the same key pieces as a regular ring key model. A lot of older beginners and older players have trouble fully closing LH3 and RH3 toneholes, some other keywork options like having those two toneholes made with covered action could also help - those options were available on Vitos and Bundys back in the day, but sadly not any more. The cost to do that conversion to a regular ring key clarinet is far more costly than it would cost to buy a clarinet already built to that spec by the maker (likewse is adding a LH Ab/Eb lever to an existing clarinet compared to the cost of one with that key already fitted).
Great review as usual. I am a saxophone player who doubles on clarinet. I looked into plateau clarinets a while back and was disappointed no one makes them any more. Glad to hear at least Uebel is bringing them back. I'm curious if this one has an articulated G#/C#?
Old people with arthritis their fingers can get really bent and gnarly. One of my old now departed friends was about to stop being able to play, but could play a plateau clarinet. For a while Leblanc could put the plateau keys from one of their student models onto the body of a Leblanc intermediate model and result in a very nice instrument. Unfortunately, the fire they had destroyed their stock of plateau keys and the tooling. It's nice to see this new instrument you are showing.
Thank you Maestro for making the Uebel Superior Plateau available to me for purchase. Over the past few years, I have benn having increasing problems with my hands, and largely due to being diabetic. This instrument will definitely making playing easier, but I must admit that I do have one regret--that Uebel only makes a Bb version, and NOT one in A... :) I do look forward to making a full comparison between the Uebel, and my Buffet Festivals, but the Uebel is a definite winner...
I started playing clarinet in 1964 in the 5th grade. The instrument I started on was a Normandy Plateau clarinet that was at least 10 years old. I still have it and play it. It does not have quite the open feeling that an open hole clarinet has but I didn't point it out only a clarinet professional would notice. I recently acquired a Leblanc Vito plateau clarinet 7214P. Leblanc carried both the Vito and Normandy plateau clarinets in their catalog up until Conn-Selmer swallowed them up. Vito was student level and the Normandy wood was intermediate level. The Vito has remarkably good intonation when used with the correct mouthpiece. Plateau clarinets are more sensitive to mouthpiece chamber volume to get the correct intonation.Too large a chamber will make them flat, especially the throat tones and upper register. Too small of a chamber will throw the 12ths out of whack. I use a Portnoy on both and get good results. As a 70 year old bass clarinet and bari sax player I L O V E my close hole clarinets.
Great information as always. I've known about plateau clarinets for a long time. My sax teacher used to have one for doubling. Made quick changes easier. They have been difficult to find for a long time. Interesting that Ubel has them. They're an interesting company with very nice instruments. These sound great. The Mopani seemed a little brighter to me - but who knows audio-logically speaking on the other end of the YT/internet/bone conduction earphone universe where I am.... ;) Thanks for the info!
You have no idea how happy that you made me by playing with TE tuner! While most of the notes close or perfectly in tune, some of the notes were way out. I am a sax player and it drives me crazy that I can’t get every note in the green or at least closer than I am routinely doing. What made me initially watch your video is that I’m struggling with learning the clarinet and heard about the plateau clarinets. However, the price pretty much rules that out for me. I do own a couple of yanagisawas that are in the plateau clarinets range but I just couldn’t justify that for a speciality clarinet.
When I was younger, I learned a friend of my grandmother's played clarinet in his youth. I asked if he thought of playing again, and he showed me his hand with one finger missing a joint! I wonder if a closed hole clarinet might be useful for a partial amputee -- maybe even a cosmetic "nubbin" prosthetic might make playing for fun possible again . . .
I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation of plateau clarinets Michael. It was (yuk, yuk) such a treat to be able to only have to turn the volume on during this video to hear you play, while I simply followed along in silence with the transcription of your narrative on our shared home planet "Zarcandia's" dual tablet encoding of same as appears on either side of you. Please note that in the second quadrant of inscription it is "Rhapsody," not "Rhapsodie." (Sorry, couldn't resist!) :- ) : -)
I own a couple of plateau clarinets (one of them full metal, but that’s a debate for another time), they are my favorite instruments to play. Comfortable, stable sound, it goes beyond allowing young and old players to play it allows finger placement errors and really fast playing for all ages. My old teacher ( French school), would argue that is a less sentimental form of play ( never thought sax players had a problem with that) and that it sounds more robotic. The only real drawbacks are that plateaux are more expensive to manufacture, service and repair as you essentially added 7 pads and keys to the Böhm clarinet.
I started on sax, moved to contra-alto clarinet, and then picked up Bb clarinet. The open holes on the Bb made it difficult, but not impossible to learn. That being said, a closed-hole Bb would have made learning MUCH faster.
I played Bb clarinet for less than a year before switching. That switch was sixth grade. I’m now in my twenties and play contra alto clarinet with a bit of saxophone here and there. I recently picked up a clarinet I Inherited and wow it took some serious time to get used to covering the holes. I mean, I did it, it took two weeks to get used to, but then I was, however i can somewhat see a use for this
While I haven't measured, I'm pretty sure the RH ring finger hole is the largest hole on any wind instrument, including bassoon. Having taught dozens and dozens of beginners, I feel pretty safe telling them, "99 times out of 100, when you have issues going to the second register, the right hand ring finger is at fault."
As someone that was a clarinet for 1 month (but hated it) I was bad at it and hated it because it wasn't the instrument I wanted to play (I wanted to play the saxophone). So that is why I switched to the bass clarinet but I would have stayed in clarinet if I knew it existed
I have been thinking about whether we can design something that makes the holes on clarinets smaller for little kiddos beginning. Like a rubber insert for the holes that have rings, like flutes, only it just makes the holes smaller instead of completely blocking them. Trying to cover holes makes kids squeeze their instruments and breeds so many problems for later down the track.
MAAAAAAN. I dropped out of the music game during Covid. If I find myself coming back I'll really have to give one of these a try someday.... The ole "sax player can't cover holes consistently" issue used to bite me really bad on Clarinet while doubling...
I don't know why, but for me it's weird to see a German company manufacture Boehm system clarinets. I could also see these clarinets being good for future generations with prosthetics more advanced than we have now.
Just imagine how much easier it would be to cross the break with this clarinet! It would be a total breeze!! I really struggle with crossing the break as my hands are tiny, and it can be quite painful and difficult to stretch my fingers. I hope that it will get easier with more practice.
As a sax player, I would love this. Unfortunately, ya can't play "Rhapsody in Blue" [edit] Aha, I guess you can! Man, if I had one of these I would have actually practiced my doubling.
More plugged holes mean more possibility of failures. More pads that can cover poorly. On the other hand, if the pads are not high enough it will affect the tuning and the sound. Anyway, I'd like to try it.
I am a bit curious. If you had to pick between the two versions of these plateau clarinets, which one would you prefer? Did one feel better, respond better, or was just that little bit more than the other in some way? The wood does make a bit of a difference. Again, just curious, but if you had to keep one and play it for a year which version would you keep? By the way, a friend of mine who grew up in the 1930s playing in Big Bands switched to a plateau model clarinet after losing the tip of his right hand index finger in a snow blower mishap. He always sounded great on it. I have no idea what happened to it after he died at age 95 some fifteen or so years ago. Thank you for the great video.
@@jazzbariman If you’re recalling a musician in IA/NE (RS?), I was thinking of him while watching this, too. He might have had his own horn adapted by a local repair friend, too? @Earspasm - thanks for broadening everyone’s horizons on options for players who need this feature!
When I was a young lad, I got my fingers caught in the hinges of a gym locker room door. I lost the very tip of my right middle finger, but not the nail, so it grew back over the shortened tip. This was a reason I was started on saxophone in school because the jr. high band director at the time wisely said only having half a pad on that one finger would make covering the holes on the clarinet difficult. When I did eventually start doubling (and it later became my princpal in college) I had to play with flat fingers on my right hand in order to cover the holes. (Also have to twist the bottom joint a little off center.) Cutting to the chase, the plateau clarinet would also allow people who have some sort of disfigurement to one or more fingers to play clarinet.
Of all the Uebel models I have the Superior is my fave! (Open hole.) I do have to use a sharper mouthpiece as these seem to be designed to play at 440 without a "13" style mouthpiece. (Gigliotto 442)
I had a Noblet plateau for a while. Beautifully-made clarinet, but the two things that I noticed straight away, was that it was a bit quieter than a Boehm, and you couldnt slur the notes in the way that I was used to on a Boehm. So...its gone.
Those would have been great to have... So many small kids just stop playing the clarinet because it is impossible to cover the holes specially with the right hand... Which lead me to the question: would it be possible to make an hybrid version? Uncovered holes (aka usual clarinet on the upper joint/left hand) and plateau for the lower joint (right hand)? It would be more open in sound, but still with advantages av the plateau...
I wish I had one of these for when I need to reach because I have small hands and the closed holes of the alto, contralto/bass and bass were much easier for me even if they are larger instruments Edit: was that fantasy piece?!
Do you believe that replacing circular holes with some kind of vertically-sliding mechanism, perhaps covering rectangular holes with a sort of garage-door action, might be a fruitful alternative design for enabling even more glissandi? I have had this idea for many years...
Then jazz won't be it's signature sound. Before I listen, I ask you to perform a famous Gershwin solo from Rhapsody In Blue ... on this clarinet with no holes in the keys. Did someone look at a cheap flute and say, why don't we try that? Less drilling!
Great video. I know Rheuben Allen makes a closed hole clarinet, for the reason you mentioned that arthritis has set and it works, its a very good instrument . My question to you, I see you were using a Black Diamond mouthpiece, what ligature is that you are playing?
I thought of one you didn't mention for why you would want closed hole. I was in marching band when I was in high school. And we marched in the Christmas parade. You cannot play an open hole clarinet while wearing gloves. But I bet you could play that plateau thing while wearing gloves. Not that a high school kid can afford $6,700 for a clarinet.
The sound of your Selmer is superior .Of course you are incredible clarinet player.I always say to my students : Is not the horse but the raider.Practice, practice and ....... practice.
I have never seen these in America. I purchased a plateau clarinet from a person that makes them basically as a hobby, and it is terribly out of tune with itself and flat overall, to the point where it is difficult to play along with recordings as I practice because of the level of cringe. Does Uebel make more of an intermediate model, or are there used ones on the market? I have arthritic fingers, and using a regular clarinet makes my joints swell and fingers freeze/pop. So plateau is obligatory, but I can't find any manufacturers in the states and the few European ones I've seen are very pricey and hard to get shipped here. What's your secret?
Just out of curiosity, would it be possible to use some kind of rubber plug to make the keys changeable between normal and plateau? Just like on the flute keys? That would be interesting😂
I briefly had that thought, too, but then I realized when I read your question and really thought about it that it wouldn't actually work, because the normal rings sit way too close to the holes to be able to plug them without plugging the actual tone hole, and then the rings basically go around the tone hole when depressed.
Pretty sure the plateau fell out of use because it did not work as well with jazz and klezmer performance. Also, quite possible that "Rhapsody in Blue" may have been a nail in the coffin. Oops. Sent the message a little too soon. Well, yeah it can be done, BUT not as nice.
As a geriatric player, I am curious to know how much heavier the closed keys make the instrument compared to your Selmer. I own a Noblet plateau key clarinet that ways only a few ounces more than my Backun, but that is enough to make it uncomfortable, especially for my right thumb. (And yes, I do wear a neck strap).
Naomi, if your thumb rest has a ring attached to it, you could use a harness-style strap to get more weight off your thumb and neck. Harness straps are for bigger instruments, think tenor sax and larger. Might be an option for you. I have small clarinet students who use these.
Naomi, there is a thing called a claritie. It’s made by Daniel Bangham sold by Woodwind and Reed in Cambridge U.K. it’s a clarinet support that takes some of the weight on a wooden support on your abdomen and you can adjust the metal wire to fit your body size. Hopefully that’s enough detail for google to find it. Two of my friends use them very successfully for exactly the reason you describe. Worth seeing if you can get one shipped, they are well priced for the chance of being able continue playing.
I started clarinet as a sixth grader, my fingers were plenty big enough. Maybe younger kids could benefit. As far as the squeaking goes, I don't think this makes a difference. That's all in the embouchure.
Picked up a Vito plateau clarinet because arthritis runs in the family and I know it's a matter of when not if. Good to know there's a decent modern option for a plateau clarinet.
I actually have one of these! It was passed down to me from my mom but still. I think it's like a Normandy Leblanc from the 60s or 70s, it's got a great sound but a couple of keys are out of place and I mainly play bass clarinet now, but it's nice to have
I'm late to see your video but I have to say.... you should have put your mic closer. I have to crank up the volume to hear you speak! Otherwise- great job!
"Great for young beginners whose fingers can't cover the tone holes." I don't know any parent that's going for fork out almost $7k for a pro horn for a beginner. 🤣 But they sure are beautiful horns, and worth every penny, I'm sure
