Clarinet in B-flat
Serial number: W6031
The firm Selmer was founded in Paris in 1885 by the clarinettist Henri Selmer (born Mézières 1858; died Paris July 1941). His younger brother Alexandre Selmer (born Caluire-et-Cuire 7 Oct 1864; died Chatou 19 Feb 1953) founded the American company. When Alexandre went back to France in 1910 he left the business in the hands of George M. Bundy (1886-1951). In 1927 the firm moved to Elkhart, Lousianna. When the French firm found itself unable to export instruments during World War II, the American firm began to make its own clarinets, producing its first "Bundy" clarinets in 1944. Following the war it developed a line of low-priced student instruments for the rapidly expanding school-band market. Selmer then undertook a series of mergers with various American instrument making firms. It was reincorporated as the Selmer Co. in 1976. At the end of the 20th century it had factories in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina. It continued to import French-made Selmer instruments for its top-quality range and developed a line of educational materials. The Mazzeo system is a modification of the Boehm system invented by the clarinettist Rosario Mazzeo in the 1950s. (Carolyn Bryant and Joseph Manfredo, "Selmer", in: The Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd edition.)
Overall size: 633 without mouthpiece
Bore: c-hole 14.4; f-hole 14.8
Conical part: 200
Technical description: Blackwood with silver plated German silver ferrules and keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece (missing), barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. The main feature of the Mazzeo system is that it has one proper tone-hole for the register key and another for a good in-tune throat B♭, instead of using one key compromising between these different requests. B♭ key operated by L2, R1, R2, on R3 articulated. Closed with L1 and L0. Plateau key for L0. Articulated C♯₄/G♯₅ opened by L4 and L4 lever as well as R4 key for G♯₃/E♭₅, closed by any RH ring. Tone hole for C♯₄/G♯₅ through tenon of upper section. Extension to E♭₃. Ringless bell aids in weight reduction. 21 keys, 6 rings.
L0: plate F₄/C♮₆; speaker.
L1: T + ring F♯₄; throat A♮; throat A♭.
L2: T + E♭₄/B♭₅ corresponding ring.
L3: T + ring; cross E♭₄/B♭₅.
L4: C♯₄/G♯₅; F₃/C♮₅; E₃/B♮₄; F♯₃/C♯₅; G♯₃/E♭₅; E♭₃.
R1: T + ring B♭₃/F♮₅ via correspondence; side E♭₄/B♭₅; side F♯₄/C♯₆; trills 1-2; throat B♭.
R2: T + ring B♮₃/F♯₅ via correspondence; throat B♭.
R3: T + ring B♮₃/F♯₅ via correspondence; cross B♮₃/F♯₅.
R4: : G♯₃/E♭₅; E₃/B♮₄; F₃/C♮₅; F♯₃/C♯₅; E♭₃.
Keyhead type: modern.
Keymount type: screwed-in pillars.
Inscribed on barrel (in a laurel) "HENRI / SELMER / PARIS / 10 "; on upper section "DEPOSE / HENRI / SELMER / PARIS / FRANCE / MAZZEO MODEL"; on lower section (in a laurel) "HENRI / SELMER / PARIS" and on bell (in a laurel) "HENRI / SELMER / PARIS / MAZZEO MODEL". On back of both joints also "W6031", on barrel "MADE IN FRANCE".
Mouthpiece missing.
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
The firm Selmer was founded in Paris in 1885 by the clarinettist Henri Selmer (born Mézières 1858; died Paris July 1941). His younger brother Alexandre Selmer (born Caluire-et-Cuire 7 Oct 1864; died Chatou 19 Feb 1953) founded the American company. When Alexandre went back to France in 1910 he left the business in the hands of George M. Bundy (1886-1951). In 1927 the firm moved to Elkhart, Lousianna. When the French firm found itself unable to export instruments during World War II, the American firm began to make its own clarinets, producing its first "Bundy" clarinets in 1944. Following the war it developed a line of low-priced student instruments for the rapidly expanding school-band market. Selmer then undertook a series of mergers with various American instrument making firms. It was reincorporated as the Selmer Co. in 1976. At the end of the 20th century it had factories in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina. It continued to import French-made Selmer instruments for its top-quality range and developed a line of educational materials. The Mazzeo system is a modification of the Boehm system invented by the clarinettist Rosario Mazzeo in the 1950s. (Carolyn Bryant and Joseph Manfredo, "Selmer", in: The Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd edition.)
Overall size: 633 without mouthpiece
Bore: c-hole 14.4; f-hole 14.8
Conical part: 200
Technical description: Blackwood with silver plated German silver ferrules and keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece (missing), barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. The main feature of the Mazzeo system is that it has one proper tone-hole for the register key and another for a good in-tune throat B♭, instead of using one key compromising between these different requests. B♭ key operated by L2, R1, R2, on R3 articulated. Closed with L1 and L0. Plateau key for L0. Articulated C♯₄/G♯₅ opened by L4 and L4 lever as well as R4 key for G♯₃/E♭₅, closed by any RH ring. Tone hole for C♯₄/G♯₅ through tenon of upper section. Extension to E♭₃. Ringless bell aids in weight reduction. 21 keys, 6 rings.
L0: plate F₄/C♮₆; speaker.
L1: T + ring F♯₄; throat A♮; throat A♭.
L2: T + E♭₄/B♭₅ corresponding ring.
L3: T + ring; cross E♭₄/B♭₅.
L4: C♯₄/G♯₅; F₃/C♮₅; E₃/B♮₄; F♯₃/C♯₅; G♯₃/E♭₅; E♭₃.
R1: T + ring B♭₃/F♮₅ via correspondence; side E♭₄/B♭₅; side F♯₄/C♯₆; trills 1-2; throat B♭.
R2: T + ring B♮₃/F♯₅ via correspondence; throat B♭.
R3: T + ring B♮₃/F♯₅ via correspondence; cross B♮₃/F♯₅.
R4: : G♯₃/E♭₅; E₃/B♮₄; F₃/C♮₅; F♯₃/C♯₅; E♭₃.
Keyhead type: modern.
Keymount type: screwed-in pillars.
Inscribed on barrel (in a laurel) "HENRI / SELMER / PARIS / 10 "; on upper section "DEPOSE / HENRI / SELMER / PARIS / FRANCE / MAZZEO MODEL"; on lower section (in a laurel) "HENRI / SELMER / PARIS" and on bell (in a laurel) "HENRI / SELMER / PARIS / MAZZEO MODEL". On back of both joints also "W6031", on barrel "MADE IN FRANCE".
Mouthpiece missing.
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Artwork Details
- Title: Clarinet in B-flat
- Factory: Henri Selmer (Paris)
- Inventor: Rosario Mazzeo (American, Pawtucket, Rhode Island 1911–1997 Carmel, California)
- Date: ca. 1972
- Geography: France
- Culture: French
- Medium: African blackwood, nickel-silver
- Dimensions: L. 70.5 cm (27 3/4 in.)
- Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
- Credit Line: Purchase, Robert Alonzo Lehman Bequest, 2002
- Object Number: 2002.346
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Henri Selmer
1919
Buffet, Crampon & Cie.
ca. 1960
Buffet, Crampon & Cie.
ca. 1985
Evette-Schaeffer
ca. 1925
Gautrot aîné
ca. 1900
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.