GB2200236A

GB2200236A - Clarinet

Info

Publication number: GB2200236A
Application number: GB08801364A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Herbert Wurlitzer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-01-24
Filing date: 1988-01-21
Publication date: 1988-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2008-01-21
Also published as: DD267345A5; DE3702055A1; JPS63189898A; IT1227392B; JP2631382B2; GB2200236B; FR2610128A1; DE3702055C2; FR2610128B1; IT8722378A0; GB8801364D0

Abstract

The head joint 3 of a clarinet is provided at either or both end face(s) with a stub 8 which mates with a matching bore 9 in the upper joint 6 (and/or in the mouthpiece 1) to effectively increase the proportion of the linear bore in the head joint. <IMAGE>

Description

CLARINET This invention relates to a clarinet.

There have been many improvements to the clarinet during the course of its development. This applies to the clarinet body, its geometrical design, the selection of material and also to the keywork. As a departure from the original constant-diameter longitudinal bore of the melody pipe, clarinets whose bores have different diameters in different sections have become known.

Furthermore, individual sections may be of conical design. Melody pipes of such design are intended to achieve a particular clarity of the individual tones at all pitches, in particular of the duo-decimos and of the high notes.

Furthermore, itis known to provide a note hole in the head joint (bulb, barrel) of the clarinet, which is arranged between mouthpiece and upper joint of the clarinet, which hole can be closed and opened by means of an operable key. This is intended to bring about a clear sound quality and an extension of the compass or range of the instrument.

The known measures all require extensive, risky work, in particular on the upper joint of the clarinet and on its keywork.

Subsequent modifications and adaptations for the pitch and response of the clarinet are thus significantly hampered.

According to this invention there is provided a clarinet having an interconnectable mouthpiece, head joint and upper joint, the head joint being provided at at least one of its end faces with a stub, which can be fitted tightly into a matching bore of the upper joint or of the mouthpiece respectively.

This invention is based on the realisation that, in previously known clarinets, the effective proportion of the overall pipe length of the clarinet for the head joint is relatively small, but the head joint is of major importance for the pitch and response of the clarinet.

The proportion of the head joint pipe length of the clarinet should therefore be as large as possible. This can only be achieved to a limited extent by simple lengthening of the head joint.

The connection of the head joint to the mouthpiece and to the upper joint has previously been made by stubs forming portions of the mouthpiece and of the upper joint. The outside diameter of the stub is much smaller here than the outside diameter of the mouthpiece or of the upper joint. In such previously known instruments, the usual head joint includes, at its end faces, bores (hearts) matching the stub diameter and the stub length. By fitting the stubs into the bores, tight plug connections are established between mouthpiece, head joint and upper joint of the clarinet.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal part-sectional exploded view of a portion of a conventional form of clarinet; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal part-sectional exploded view of a portion of a clarinet embodying this invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2, each clarinet has a mouthpiece 1, a head joint 3 and an adaptor portion of the upper joint 6, respectively shown from top to bottom in the sequence of their assembly.

For a better understanding of the embodiments, the parts directly serving for connection are shown in section and the keywork is not shown. In known clarinets such as shown in Fig. 1, the mouthpiece 1 ends in a stub 2, the diameter of which is smaller than that of the mouthpiece 1 and of the head joint 3. The head joint 3 has at its end face facing the mouthpiece 1, a bore 4, which is arranged in diameter and length to correspond to those of the stub 2.

Correspondingly, there is at the end face facing the upper joint a bore 5, which serves to receive and match with a stub 7 of the upper joint 6. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the effective linear proportion of the longitudinal bore in the head joint 3 is relatively small.

Referring to Fig. 2, the longitudinal bore of the clarinet is shown in the embodiment as a cylindrical bore of constant diameter.

However, any other design of bore, for example, varying bore diameter and/or conical bores, may also be provided.

By comparison with the clarinet shown in Fig. 1, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the effective linear portion of the bore in the head joint 3 is much longer, approximately up to three times as long as in the known design shown in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the mouthpiece 1 and head joint 3 are, as (conventionally) usual, interconnected by means of a stub 2 at the mouthpiece 1. On the other hand, as a change from the previously known design, the end portion of the head joint 3 facing the upper joint 6 is provided with a stub 8, for the reception of which the upper joint 6 has a matching bore 9. As can be seen, this design measure considerably lengthens the effective linear proportion of the longitudinal bore in the head joint compared with the known design shown in Fig. 1.

Furthermore, there is also the possibility of providing the head joint 3 at both end faces with stubs, which can then be fitted into matching bores in the mouthpiece 1 and in the upper joint 6. In this solution, the effective proportion of the longitudinal bore in the head joint 3 is approximately quintupled and thus the influence of the head joint on the pitch and response of the clarinet is further enhanced.

The provision of a stub at the end face of the head joint facing the upper joint can approximately treble the effective pipe length of the head joint. If stubs are provided at both end faces of the head joint, the effective pipe length of the head joint can be quintupled. These measures considerably increase the influence of the head joint on the pitch and response of the clarinet. It makes possible a simple adaptation to the requirements of the clarinettist and avoids risky subsequent modifications to the bore in the upper part of the instrument.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS:

1. A clarinet having an interconnectable mouthpiece, head joint and upper joint, the head joint being provided at at least one of its end faces with a stub, which can be fitted tightly into a matching bore of the upper joint or of the mouthpiece respectively.

2. A clarinet according to claim 1, wherein-stubs are provided at both end faces of the head joint.

3. A clarinet substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing.