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Clarinet, A

Date1970

Place MadeParis, France, Europe

Serial No.F114707

SignedStamped on barrel, bottom joint, and bell: [music lyre] / BUFFET / Crampon & Cie (script) / A PARIS (BUFFET / Crampon & Cie / A PARIS in oval cartouche) / BC (overlapping script) / MADE IN FRANCE

Stamped on top joint: [music lyre] / BUFFET / Crampon & Cie (script) / A PARIS (BUFFET / Crampon & Cie / A PARIS in oval cartouche) / BC (overlapping script) / MADE IN FRANCE / BC2
MarkingsPiece of masking tape on barrel: R-13 A / BUFFET / BARREL / 67MM
Piece of masking tape on bell: on (?) / 16
Description4 sections: barrel, top joint, bottom joint, bell. Boehm-Mazzeo system; 20 keys, 1 plateau key; 5 rings; Grenadilla wood body; nickel-silver keys, rings, ferrules.

This clarinet bears extensive custom modifications by Dennis Heaney, Santa Cruz, and Norman Benner, San Jose, ca. 1970. Mazzeo called this: "Famous California Custom Clarinet."

Key modifications: top joint—extended thumb plate over plateau key for left hand, right-hand side key for throat B-flat, elongated and angled register key, elongated and modified left-hand g-sharp/a-flat key, extra right-hand side key with overlapping extensions on other right-hand side keys, c-sharp/g-sharp key extension operated with right hand; bottom joint—articulated, left-hand b/right hand c-sharp modification to hold c-sharp while depressing the b key, additional a-flat/e-flat key for left-hand, little finger; bell—ringless.

Part of a set with NMM 05834.
DimensionsOverall length (from top of barrel to bottom of bell): 636 mm
Barrel: 66.8 mm
Upper joint: 204.5 mm
Bottom joint: 255 mm
Bell: 108.9 mm
Bore at top of top joint: 14.2
Bore at bottom of top joint: 13.9 mm
Bore at bottom of bottom joint: 21.4 mm
ProvenanceNo known provenance.
Published ReferencesMazzeo, Rosario. "The Famous California Custom Clarinet." In _The Clarinet: Excellence and Artistry_. Sherman Oaks, California: Alfred Publishing Co., 1981. (pp. 153-61)

Reeves, Deborah Check. "The Mazzeo System Clarinet: An Historical Review." _The Clarinet_ 26, no. 2 (March 1999): 62-64.

Credit LineRosario Mazzeo Collection, 1995

Object number05833

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