Progress in key mounting

Photo: (109), (2452), (937), (4061), (930)

(109) Clarinet in B^b; 13-keys. Maker: Bilton, London, c 1840.
(2452) Clarinet in B^b; 12 keys. Maker: Thomas Key, London, c 1830.
(937) Clarinet in B^b, 8 keys. Maker: Thomas Key, London, c 1812.
(4061) Clarinet in C; 10 keys. Probably Britain, c 1840.
(930) Clarinet in B^b; 10 keys. Maker: Stärck, London, c 1812.

The first keys fitted on the clarinet were mounted in turned rings. The early 8-key instrument in the middle of the picture shows that some keys are still mounted in rudiments of these rings, for example the A key. The long side levers are mounted in a swelling - sometimes fusiform, sometimes bell-shaped - and guided through rudiments of turned rings. The cross keys are mounted in blocks and fitted with brass pins: this was the standard model up to circa 1840. The two 10-key instruments on the right side feature a key for B^b₃/F-natural₅ mounted in another wooden block. The two instruments on the left side show a new method: Foot-plates with saddles which carry the keys were screwed into the body. Thomas Key added a side key for A^b operated with L2, and a side key for F₄/C₆ operated with R1. Bilton did the same thing, but he offered also an alternative fingering of B natural₃/F^#₅ by adding a side key in a saddle on the lower section.

(143) Clarinet in C, 12-key English with alternative F# for R4 (Thomas Key, London, c 1830) Sound examples played by Lesley Schatzberger Talk about talk about 1820s English clarinet [Real video ] Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), excerpt from 3rd movement (Rondo, Alegretto) of Duo No. 1 for Clarinet and Bassoon (probably last decade of the 18th century) [Real video ]

Photo: (108, (4063), (4064), (973), (1035)

(108) Clarinet in B^b;12-key Continental. Maker: J.G.H. Backofen, Darmstadt, Germany, c 1825.
(4063) Clarinet in B^b; 12 keys and spectacle. Maker: Johann Christopher Selboe, Copenhagen, c 1850.
(4064) Clarinet in A; 12 keys and spectacle. Maker: Johann Christopher Selboe, Copenhagen c 1850.
(973) Clarinet in B^b; 13-key English. Maker: J. Bray, Dublin, c 1850.
(1035) Clarinet in B^b; 13-key English. Maker: Pask and Koenig, London, c 1850.

The virtuoso Johann Georg Heinrich Backofen (1768-1839) wrote the first German clarinet tutor in 1803. In the same year John Mahon’s tutor A New and Complete Preceptor for the Clarinet was published by Goulding, Phipps & D'Almaine, who also sold clarinets. As a craftsman, Backofen still used turned rings. He provided a well-designed touchpiece for G^#₃/E^b₅, so that R4 can slide easily from the tone-hole to the touchpiece.
One large problem with the clarinet is proper intonation between the low and the overblown registers. Therefore Backofen offered an alternative key for F₃/C₆ to improve the intonation and sound of the tones in both registers. B-natural and B^b in the low register and F^# and F-natural respectively in the high register were not satisfactory on the clarinet. As we know, the fingering for B^b/F had been improved by using a cross key, but in some passages the forked fingering was and is still unavoidable. Also B-natural/F^# had been enhanced by using a cross key or/and an alternative side key, as on Backofen's and Bray's clarinets. The two instruments from Copenhagen feature a “spectacle” key, which enables the player to have a correct B-natural/F^# with R1 and a good forked B^b/F. Astonishingly these clarinets combine this quite modern invention with a traditional design of turned rings and blocks.
The 13-key instrument of Pask & Koenig dispenses with the swelling and uses pivots for the bascules, which are also guided in brackets.

(108) Clarinet in Bb, 12-key Continental (J.G.H. Backofen, Darmstadt, Germany, c 1825) Sound examples played by Lesley Schatzberger Talk about Backofen clarinet [Real video ] Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826), excerpt from Concertino for clarinet (1811) [Real video ]

Photo: (4060), (111), (132), (115)

(4060) Clarinet in C; 13-key Müller-type. Maker: David, France, probably Paris, c 1840.
(111) Clarinet in B^b; 14-key Müller type. Maker: F.G.B. Bruggemann, Leyden, Holland, c 1860.
(132) Clarinet in A; enhanced Müller type. Maker: Simiot and Brelet, Lyon, c 1845.
(115) Clarinet in B^b/A; 20 keys. Maker: J.F. Simiot, Lyon, c 1827.

A milestone in the history of clarinet-making was the invention of the clarinettist Iwan Müller (1786-1854) in 1812, which concerned the arrangement and position of the keys, the boring and design of the tone-holes, and the material and shape of the pads. The most important item was the key for F₃/C₅, which enabled the maker to bore the hole for this note without being limited by the reach of the little finger. Thereby the whole disposition of the fingering and tone-hole diameter was improved to give a warmer and louder sound. All clarinets shown in the picture feature Müller's invention. The clarinet by David on the left (4060) has “salt spoon”-keyheads, a further invention of Müller, which replaced the old flat keys. The Bruggemann clarinet is a good example for the anachronism and individualism of craftsmanship. Even though using modern keys, the mounting is still made with blocks and pins, in opposition to comparable contemporary instruments which are mounted with pillars and screws. The distinguished French maker Jacques François Simiot (c 1769-1844) stands out because of his delicate work. For example, he invented a tube which projects into the thumb hole to prevent the condensed water from dripping out. For the same reason he moved the tone-hole for the speaker to the front of the instrument.