That appears to be an old Albert System clarinet the clown in the center is holding. These have now been largely replaced by the Boehm System, although Albert System clarinets are still used by musicians who perform Eastern European and Turkish music as well as Klazmer (Jewish) and Dixieland styles. Sears Roebuck continued to sell Albert System clarinets well into the 1920s, but at a greatly reduced price.
Basically, the Boehm system changed the ring and axle keywork to correct serious intonation issues on both the upper and lower joints of the instrument, and added duplicate keys for the left and right little fingers, simplifying several difficult articulations throughout the range of the instrument. It replaced the Albert system around the 1870s, although many old Albert instruments are still around.
Clarinets make their sound from the open holes. The more holes that are covered, the deeper the pitch. (That is a generality) The Boehm system was an advance on Albert, in that the arrangements of the keys which you press to cover a hole or combination of holes is generally easier to do and it allows some duplication, to allow two ways to get the same pitch, useful in fast passages.
My grandfather played an Albert. I was unaware of the preference for Albert by some ethinic musicians. Maybe the Albert system is easier to smear, which is a characteristic of Klezmer and Eastern European music. (I don't know about Turkish.)
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That appears to be an old Albert System clarinet the clown in the center is holding. These have now been largely replaced by the Boehm System, although Albert System clarinets are still used by musicians who perform Eastern European and Turkish music as well as Klazmer (Jewish) and Dixieland styles. Sears Roebuck continued to sell Albert System clarinets well into the 1920s, but at a greatly reduced price.
What's the difference Eric
Basically, the Boehm system changed the ring and axle keywork to correct serious intonation issues on both the upper and lower joints of the instrument, and added duplicate keys for the left and right little fingers, simplifying several difficult articulations throughout the range of the instrument. It replaced the Albert system around the 1870s, although many old Albert instruments are still around.
Clarinets make their sound from the open holes. The more holes that are covered, the deeper the pitch. (That is a generality)
The Boehm system was an advance on Albert, in that the arrangements of the keys which you press to cover a hole or combination of holes is generally easier to do and it allows some duplication, to allow two ways to get the same pitch, useful in fast passages.
My grandfather played an Albert. I was unaware of the preference for Albert by some ethinic musicians. Maybe the Albert system is easier to smear, which is a characteristic of Klezmer and Eastern European music. (I don't know about Turkish.)
Like many folks we know Tony
that make their sounds from
their "open holes"
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