Introducing A New Plateau (Covered Hole) Key Clarinet

Introducing A New Plateau (Covered Hole) Key Clarinet

I have recently (March 2016) had the pleasure of the final testing of several wonderful plateau key clarinets prior to supply to customers. Each of these instruments had new touch pieces done altering all the formerly open rings into covered touches with other keywork, notably the left hand Eb/Bb and the right hand chromatic B/F#, altered as required for ease of use.

These custom alterations, done to a design by Daniel Bangham and executed to perfection by master craftsman Peter Worrell, have the effect of transforming the clarinet in a most wonderful way - adding complete ease and confidence of fingering and, due to the small additional mass of the keywork, enhancing the power and resonance of the instrument itself.

Over many years I have come to know the limitations of other familiar commercially available covered hole clarinet options, notably from Noblet and Vito. I can honestly say that this new version is in a completely different league to anything I have ever previously played. I had no feeling of compromise over the performance and tonal quality of a standard instrument when playing these clarinets. Indeed I experienced the unexpected feeling of freedom that I attribute to being able relax my fingers and not worry about precision in my fingering position. It was very much like fingering a fine soprano sax but hearing a wonderful clarinet!

I can imagine this customisation to be of great interest to any clarinettist suffering from a loss of finger dexterity, touch sensitivity or arthritis and I will venture that the covered holes could be a great boon to any saxophonist who longs for the comfort and relaxed feel of their beloved saxophone when required to pick up and perform on a clarinet.

Any model clarinet can, in theory, have this work undertaken but I would recommend that it be considered on higher value professional models as this is where the outstanding comfort and additional resonance will be most likely to be perceived and be of the greatest value. The converted models I have tried have been from Buffet and included both R13 and Prestige versions.

I cannot praise the design and craftsmanship enough. Wood, Wind & Reed are keeping a converted Buffet R13 in stock for customers to experience and are able to take orders for both new instruments and existing personal instrument conversions. Please speak to Daniel Bangham or Timothy Taylor at the shop. Contact telephone 01223 500442 or email shop@wwr.co.uk.

Thomas Dryer-Beers

Review of the New 'Mozart' Basset Clarinet by Daniel Bangham

The New 'Mozart' Basset Clarinet by Daniel Bangham - A Review

I have recently had the opportunity to trial a newly introduced extended A clarinet, with range to low C, known as a Basset Clarinet. This is the type of clarinet for which Mozart composed his Clarinet Concerto. The instrument that I tried is the first production of a new design by clarinet craftsman and instrument designer Daniel Bangham. The clarinet I tried utilised the body of the popular Buffet R13 professional model though I am told the extension, which is also made of high quality African blackwood, could be matched with almost any modern issue clarinet in A. This ‘Mozart’ basset clarinet has the extended lower compass of the pitches of low Eb, D, Db and C that are necessary for the correct - as composed - performance of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto.

Daniel Bangham has researched and improved upon the mechanisms of historical Classical era basset clarinets for the keywork layout and his new concept design allows for far greater security and ease of operation than that found on any previously available commercial instrument. The wooden body and silver plated key work for this extension has been executed by Norfolk based master craftsman Peter Worrell and they are beautiful to behold. However, the real beauty of this instrument is found in the ease of operation and simplicity of function of the keys touches.

The Bangham Basset does not reply on the little finger of either hand learning a new 'routine' in order to operate the mechanism for the extended notes - the keys are operated by the right hand thumb alone - in conjunction with the low E key. Descending a C scale or executing a C major arpeggio are made very easy and logical indeed. This ease is achieved by the low D and C keys independently closing their tone holes. When one wishes to play the less often required low Eb and Db these tones are achieved by engaging their keys with a sliding motion while continuing to engage the primary key - i.e. low D + Eb key for Eb, low C + Db key for Db. Full chromatic motion is made possible with rollers in all directions on the thumb keys. No separate low Eb key is required so the right hand little finger cluster remains unaltered from a standard instrument.

Obviously the weight of the instrument is greater than that of a standard clarinet and the balance is not the same due to the longer length but a beautifully crafted sling mount / thumb rest has been created for the Bangham Basset clarinet which helps to reduce these differences. The new technique required for the right hand thumb is no more demanding than that required to operate the key work on a bassoon and, though it does require an investment of practice time to gain facility the thumb motion should become second nature within a few sessions. The tone of the clarinet remains the same throughout the range and all sounds are clearly produced.

The extension is branded CWM as it originated as a concept and collaboration out of the Cambridge Woodwind Makers project (www.cambridgewoodwindmakers.org) at the Stapleford Granary near Cambridge where both Daniel and Peter run making and repair courses. The instrument is supplied as an outfit in a well padded, slimline gig bag made specifically for the Basset by the British firm Bass Bags. It is played with a standard Bb/A clarinet mouthpiece on the instrument and the first productions are available from Woodwind & Reed to purchase from Dec 2015.

Price £5400 inc VAT (£4500 ex VAT)

Thomas Dryer-Beers, staff member WWR (www.wwr.co.uk)

Woodwind Performer and Teacher

Consultant to Reeds Direct Cambridge (www.reedsdirect.co.uk)