Clarinet. Nominal pitch: A.

Hawkes & Son

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Instrument

Clarinet

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Hawkes & Son

Place Made

United Kingdom ; Europe ; London ; England

Date Made

Circa 1925

Description

Technical description: Blackwood with silver ferrules and keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. Mouthpiece: by Alfred Warrell of Deal, Kent, a mouthpiece specialist. Shows evidence of relaying; table is not flat and so position of ligature will be critical. From the discolouration on the outside, it appears that the ligature was placed quite high (nearer the tip). This would stabilise the important part of the lay and vibrating part of the reed. Using this ligature position, the lay has an opening of 1.10mm (44 thou.) and a length of 17mm (667 thou.). The top surface of the beak has been rubbed over with fine abrasive, possibly to remove scratches, irregularities or plaque. Kell always used a double lip embouchure. Bell slightly bulbous. Standard Boehm system, but with some stylistic features of the 1920's: the L4 B₄ and C♯₅ keys are on a single pivot screw rather than the two we have today; the L4 C♯₄/G♯₅ key has a leaf spring rather than a needle spring; the R4 F♯₃/C♯₅ key has a needle rather than leaf spring. L0: T + ring + vent F₄/C♮₆; speaker. L1: T + ring + vent F♯₄; throat A♮; throat A♭. L2: T + ring + vent E♭₄/ B♭₅ corresponding ring. L3: T; cross E♭₄/ B♭₅. L4: C♯₄/G♯₅; F₃/C♮₅; E₃/B♮₄; F♯₃/C♯₅. R1: T + ring; alternative E♭₄/ B♭₅; B♭ via correspondence; trills 1-2-3. R2: T + ring B♮₃/F♯₅; B♭ via correspondence. R3: T + ring B♮₃/F♯₅; B♭ via correspondence; cross B♮₃/F♯₅. R4: G♯₃/E♭₅; E₃/B♮₄; F₃/C♮₅; F♯₃/C♯₅. Keymount type: pillars (all screws are 9 BA). Keyhead type: modern. Overall size: 628 to top of barrel. Bore: at C₄ hole 14.4; at F₃ hole 15.1. Upper section and bell stamped "EXCELSIOR / SONOROUS / CLASS / HAWKES & SON / MAKER / LONDON"; lower section stamped "HAWKES & SON / MAKER / LONDON"; serial number "12366" is stamped below badge; on upper section "A LP" is stamped above badge. With double clarinet case, reed cutter and various accessories, shared with (2800). Repair History: The metal tenon caps seem to have been added after the instruments were made; the tenons are now slightly too long for their sockets. The right-hand ring key pad was damaged and has been re-covered. Many keys were loose; some had been tightened. One pillar (lower pillar of C♮₅ key) has been tightened by winding thread under the base. Barrel is a replacement. The B levers for L4 are bent so as to lie much higher than on most instruments, a piece of cloth is glued below the thumb rest; both these modifications were made by (or for) Kell himself. Some repair work carried out by E. Planas, 1987. Performance characteristics: Very free blowing and resonant; good intonation. Forms a pair with instrument (2800). Specific literature references: Trier 1981; Trier et al. 1982; Denman et al. 1982; Gibson 1987; Follan 1988; Puddy and Shackleton 1988a; Puddy and Shackleton 1988b. Illustration references: Vol. 1 p.95, with clarinet (2800), also associated mouthpiece. Specific recording references: Trier et al. 1982; Denman et al 1982; Gibson 1987.

Other Information

Specific usage history: The playing instrument of Reginald Kell throughout his career.

Notes

T.K. Dibley, 1992; E. Planas, N. Shackleton, K. Puddy, 1987 (?); H. Fricke, July 2005.

Measurements

628 to top of barrel.

Provenance

Gift of Mrs Diana Kell.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

2801

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