A discussion about the necessity of having a complete and properly proportioned understanding of the clarinet's playing qualities and forming a properly ordered hierarchy of values.
I think as a developing musician it is ok to aspire to having, lets say a top of the range Buffet or if you are a pianist something like Steinway or Bechstein (if you are a pianist). But no one should be under the impression that that 6K Buffet will make you into a better musician, help you keep better time or even make you simply sound better. I took a break from the clarinet for almost a decade (gulp). I have since started again and what I notice is that the clarinet market no somehow resembles the HiFi Audiophile scene. With videos comparing the latest Buffet Vintage clarinet agains the latest R13 or top of the range yamaha. With the reviewers saying how they sound a little different and the people making comments also agreeing. Well I am not too sure...I am pretty sure it is simply marketing ... Ps I like the analogy of the shiny trumpet vs the matt older looking one. Some years back we bought a Seiler upright piano which had sat in the living room of a lady for the last 40-50 years. The wood is all faded and there are bits of wood chipped off from the corners. On top it is in 70s style.. but the sound... made from really the best quality components with a fabulous sound board it sounds and plays like a mini grand piano. Compared with a modern black thing it doesnt look too great... but as they say it's beauty is more than skin (veneer) deep....
What are the differences between the AureA and Lyrique Libertas II Bb Clarinets? One video is titled AureA/Lyrique Libertas II so it seems that they must be quite similar? Is is primarily that the AureA has a LH Ab/Eb key and the Libertas II does not? (Based on a comment you made below about your preferences.) Thanks.
Keith, The left hand Ab/Eb key and the Aurea has gold posts which give it a darker more resonant sound.......oh wait.....actually the gold posts are purely cosmetic :) Acoustically and mechanically speaking they are the same clarinet with the exception of the Ab/Eb key. If you are interested in setting up a trial for either clarinet you can email or call Ted. 1-888-258-7845 toll free sales@ridenourclarinetproducts.com
i have a conn director clarinet from 1959. not shiny, but a WONDERFUL instrument. and i cant believe people dont appreciate the quality of those instruments. it stands up against professional level yamaha clarinets of today, and people valuate them at like 100 dollars... a WOOD clarinet.... its sad, but good for me i suppose
Brendan, Function and cosmetics are not the same. They are only tangentially connected--at best. Being able to make that distinction is critical if you want to avoid paying a LOT of $$$ for fancy cosmetics on a clarinet body (which is intrinsically dimensionally unstable, subject to cracking, with poor playing qualities regarding response, resistance, tonal stability in dynamic changes, tuning problems, and a host of other issues.) Our clarinets have been used by several professionals playing on traveling broadway shows---with no problem whatsoever----and never a worry about the clarinet body cracking, loose rings, binding keys, and other issues---all very common with wood clarinets subjected to different external circumstances. But getting back to the actual content of the video, the discussion here was not about the quality of the key work. The discussion was ONLY about cosmetics; appearance, not function. In the larger sense this video was/is about your value hierarchy concerning the clarinet and clarinet performance. Your comment, taken at face value, might cause someone to conclude that your value system regarding the clarinet is hardly more sophisticated than the fictional parent mentioned at the beginning of this video. Beyond that your comment makes me think you totally missed the point of what was actually said.
@@avarmadillo I agree with everything you said except that your last sentence makes me squirm a bit. For what it is worth, the keys down in the crow's foot on my 576b have bent enough to stop sealing the tone hole. All of the sudden, I think. The fix was easy but I wonder about the keywork. Fortunately as an amateur I don't put professional level demands on my horn. But if I purchased a 576b or Libertas II would the keywork be noticeably improved, silver plating aside.
@@avarmadillo I totally understood the meaning of the video and I noticed you didn't mention the quality of the keywork once, hence my comment above. The comments made on facebook referenced the quality of keywork, which you ignored in this video. Of course I like the clarinet to have an excellent scale and even-ness of response, I like that it's made of high quality hard rubber, I don't care if it's plated gold, silver, nickel or unplated - but if the keywork isn't good, then I (and I suspect many others) can't play it or recommend it to students, parents or anyone really. If the quality of keywork on this new model is great then I'll buy one in a heartbeat. Thanks.
@@jimweisgram9185 Yes, the key work is much better on these new clarinets---and beautiful. But regarding the crow's foot, if you work on not using so much force and playing with a lighter technique you'll find the adjustments remain good much longer. I've been playing a 576 myself for several years with no adjustment issues. If you have trouble and makes you have to use more force to make these long pipe tones respond you need to get the pads seated and adjusted correctly. Then you should be able to play with a lighter technique. the more force you use the quicker the keys will get out of adjustment---and that's true for any clarinet.
Sorry I don't believe in clarinets Blowing Out I have Buffet R13 that is 30 years old and played professionally and still going perfectly. Think it's people perception and up marketing to keep up with the Joneses..
