Clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭.
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InstrumentClarinet |
Instrument FamilyWind |
MakerHawkes & Son |
Place MadeUnited Kingdom ; Europe ; London ; England |
Date Made1929 |
DescriptionTechnical 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: All point screws and G♯₄ throat key screw threads are 9 BA; the remainder are 8 BA. Keyhead type: modern Serial number: 13474. According to the firm's archives, given out 23.7.29, "Bb Boehm Cart. Wood 17 keys 6 rings A6". Overall size: 658; 582 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"; also stamped on upper section at top "Bb LP"; stamped on lower section "HAWKES & SON / MAKER / LONDON / 13474"; stamped on barrel "13474"; stamped on mouthpiece "BRITISH / MADE / A. WARRELL / MAKER / DEAL"; inscribed on reed cap "Reginald / Kell / MADE IN ENGLAND". With double clarinet case, reed cutter and various accessories, shared with (2801). Forms a pair with clarinet (2801). 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. Instrument originally had a short G♯₄ throat key; original pillar holes were plugged when this was changed to a long barrel key. The long B♭ ring key has a correspondance lever of a different pattern than that of A clarinet (2801), with which this instrument forms a pair; it appears to be a cast part while that on the A clarinet is forged. Perhaps the original was broken and replaced with the first part which came to hand Ê Right hand holes have been reduced in size using heel ball (black wax) in order to alter tuning of instrument. Many pillars have been re-set using shellac. The B₅ for L4 levers are bent so as to lie much higher than on most clarinets, 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: The intonation has almost certainly deteriorated during its years of use, and it is inclined to play up to 40 cents sharp at the top of the clarinet register. 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 (2801), also associated mouthpiece. Specific recording references: Trier et al. 1982; Denman et al 1982; Gibson 1987. |
Other InformationSpecific usage history: The playing instrument of Reginald Kell throughout his career. |
NotesT.K. Dibley, August 1992; E. Planas, N. Shackleton, K. Puddy, 1987 (?); H. Fricke, July 2005. |
Measurements658; 582 to top of barrel. |
ProvenanceGift of Mrs Diana Kell. |
CollectionMIMEd |
Accession Number2800 |