Clarinet in B-flat

Buffet, Crampon & Cie. French

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 684

The great clarinetist Benny Goodman purchased this Boehm-system clarinet in 1964 and customized it with a Boosey & Hawkes ebonite mouthpiece, interchangeable barrel, and bell section from other sources. Goodman played this clarinet in many concerts and recordings including his last recording, made shortly before his death in 1986. A photograph by Steve J. Sherman of Goodman’s last recording session shows him holding this instrument; he marked the barrel with white tape to distinguish it from a second barrel stored in the same case.

Clarinet in B-flat, Buffet, Crampon & Cie. (founded 1859) (mouthpiece), Grenadilla, nickel-silver, plastic, other materials, French

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Clarinet in B-flat, Buffet, Crampon & Cie. (founded 1859) (mouthpiece), Grenadilla, nickel-silver, plastic, other materials, French
Clarinet in B-flat, Buffet, Crampon & Cie. (founded 1859) (mouthpiece), Grenadilla, nickel-silver, plastic, other materials, French

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