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As a typical element of the so called Simple System this clarinet features a long, British Ab key for L2. A curved speaker key carries the key head for the speaker tone-hole, which is positioned on the front of the instrument to prevent the hole from being blocked with condensed water. |
Photo: Detail of a clarinet by E. Albert, Brussels, c 1890. (2769)
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The most important improvement of the Simple System is the spectacle key as shown here. It was Adolphe Sax (1814-1894) who patented the spectacles improving Bb3/F5 as well as B-natural3/F#5 in 1840, but the Belgian firm of Eugene Albert (1816-1890) promoted the new system with much more success. This so-called Simple System was in use in Britain since the second half of the 19th century, and was quite common and wide-spread. |
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This Albert clarinet has fine ornamented silver keys and ferrules. To simplify the work of the small fingers, e.g. in changing legato between F3 and G#3, rollers where mounted between the keys. The small finger can slide easier between the touchpieces now. |
Details of a clarinet by E. Albert, Brussels, c 1863 (1036). |
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In 1861 Joseph Tyler invented a key combination which he sold to S. A. Chappell, the British agency of Eugene Albert. As “Patent C sharp” this mechanism was added to the Simple System clarinet, but it is also to be found on Boehm and Oehler system clarinets. It offers an alternative fingering for C#5 to avoid fingerings where the little finger of the left has to slide between the two bascule keys. |
Details of a clarinet by E.J. Albert, Brussels, early 20th century (85). |
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Another key-work element featured by Albert's is the "Barret action". Usually the clarinet of the second half of the 19th century has one or more side trill keys and two side levers for R1: one for F#4/C#6 and an alternative lever for Eb4/Bb5. In combination with the spectacle keys on the upper section the “Barett action” displaces the two levers by a single lever. For the player this means a general simplification, and scales with accidentals may be played more easily and fluently. |
Details of a clarinet by E.J. Albert, Brussels, early 20th century (85). |
Next chapter: Details of the Boehm system
