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Jim Mason · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:36 pm Post subject: Boehm System Clarinet

Until 1948, the standard issue clarinet in use was the Simple System, with its limitations of alternative fingering, and difficulties in intonation in the higher register. Added to this the conditions for practice at Howstrake camp ( sometimes 12 to a room, one instructor, sometimes of doubtful ability, no seats, everyone sitting on the lower bunk of double tier bunks) perhaps it is remarkable that any standard at all was acheived.

In January 1948, I was in one of the six new bands being formed at Burford for foreign service, and on the day before our embarkation the two Solo Clarinets (Band Sergeant Tommy Merrett and myself) were called to the instrument store to be given the momentous news that two sets of Boehm Clarinets had been obtained and were available for issue.
We had to hand in our Simple System instruments and take the Boehms.
There were no books of information or instruction or fingering charts, and we joined our troopship the following day having never played the Boehms.

Our Band Officer, Bill Fitzgerald , allowed us a few days to work it all out and was sympathetic about all the wrong notes. For the uninitiated, the Simple System has a major hexachord, against the Boehm"s minor hexachord, the upper register, from C upwards is fingered differently, and there is no alternative fingering.
Intonation problems between the systems persisted, the other four players still having the Simple System, but we survived the 30 months commission and returnrd to Deal in 1950 to find that the Boehms were on general issue. (Although, I do know of at least one player who refused to give up his Simple System and was still struggling on into the late sixties!)

It was not until Professor Mike Thatcher came to Deal that the full range of the instrument was generally appreciated.

Jim Mason

Co-admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 1811

Ye gads... as a bugler I can't think of any situation that could be worse than the one you were in! Going away with an unknown quantity and not knowing how to use it... even if you knew what the quantity was! The bonus was that you had 30 months to learn the quantities in

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bootybandy · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 8:01 pm Post subject:

I do not know when Mike Thatcher came to Deal first, but he was my Clarinet Prof when I joined up in 1971. Thank God I am too young to have missed the Clarinet evolution from Simple to Boehm Systems.
At that time I believe he was suffering from a lung complaint, (I think) and was struggling to get from his car to his Grot.
All I can remember from my lessons with him was his ability to press down on the top of my mouthpiece and causing my inside lower lip to bleed. He was a stickler for getting his pupils to play the scale of G for three octaves (up and down) with each note lasting a semibreve. I was in agony before I started any exercise that I had prepared from the previous lesson. I think he was trying to get me to play with control and a good tone, but I stuck to my guns!! I was also one of a few lads at that time that use to supplement my £3 a week wages by helping him with his gardening. Ken Mettyear was also another of the "Old" School of Profs at that time, along with Lottie Collins that made up the Clarinet Profs. This might be a good idea for a new Topic.
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RAB · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:01 am Post subject:

bootybandy · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:55 am Post subject:

Without a shadow of a doubt Rab, they weren't going to break me. Oh no Siree!!
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townsergeant · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:30 pm Post subject:

There were some real characters amongst the 'Profs'

Jack Dacombe, Harry Eden, Harry 'the lip' Lipman and my Prof, Walter Hargreaves.

My favourite...........Ken Mettyear! Fondly know as 'Ken the Blob!'

His aural classes (yes AURAL!) were the best.

''NO CLUES'' he would say when testing us on intervals!

Come on then.....what tune did he use for a minor 7th?

Answers on a postcard!

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bootybandy · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:00 pm Post subject:

Was that Lohengrin Bill?
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bootybandy · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:02 pm Post subject:

Perfect 4th = On Ilkley Moore by'tat
Perfect 5th - Lights Out

I also remember him telling us what key a piece was in, and will never forget it either.
Had to be F for intercourse. (Arpeggio)
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MrJpig · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:47 pm Post subject:

townsergeant · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:53 pm Post subject:

MrJpig · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:56 pm Post subject:

Is that my coconut or bottys?? :smt026
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townsergeant · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject:

Sorry......I only had one coconut and I'm having a problem getting it in the Jifibag to post to botty.

I know, I'll send him a Bounty!

Bootybandy Bamboozled By Bounty Bar!

NOT AGAIN!
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MrJpig · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 8:26 pm Post subject:

Nicely done!!

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townsergeant · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:47 am Post subject:

Come on then General.....tell us a dit about your Prof (without getting libelled!)

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Hornblower · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject:

I was in the same league as Botty as far as learning a musical instrument was concerned - thank God I only had to learn one!!!

I was dire and just couldn't get to grips with anything.

One day I was in with Walter Hargreaves who totally despised me - I'm not sure who wanted the session to be over quicker, me or him. Anyway, there I was churning out my usual garbage when he suddenly lashed out with his foot and kicked me (hard) on the shin.

He swept out of the grot, yelling at me to follow him, which I did. He took me straight to the main office and told me to wait. I heard him yelling at the 'main man' (don't remember who that was) and who should come along but my instructor. Some of you will love this next bit...

...There was a shortage of horn NCO's (wonder why?!) so there was nobody at that time to teach horn, so guess who we had? Go on - guess before scrolling down...

Corporal Mick Goss!!!

Now, he (and Pete Westaway, another trombone instructor) was fond of knocking us about a bit when we were stroppy - but nothing serious and we all had a good laugh. When he saw me outside the main office looking a bit worried he asked what was going on so I told him that Walter was in their trying to get me kicked out.

Mick said something like, "We'll see about that!" and stormed into the fray. The rest is history.

I somehow got drafted, to Chatham, and it was only then that I started to actually learn to play. I didn't do too bad in the end.

Thanks Mick if you ever get to read this.

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