Matched Pair of Hawkes Excelsior Sonorous Clarinets, Bucknall Collection
A fine and rare matched pair of Hawkes Excelsior Sonorous clarinets which is are commission sale for Clarinets Direct. This pair have an imoressive Provenance having been owned and played by Nicholas Bucknall, perhaps most notably on the film soundtrack for "The English Patient" These clarinets pre-date the 1930 merger with Boosey, which created the Boosey and Hawkes Company, and are commonly known has Hawkes/Martels, as the French maker Martel was a main contributor to the wide bore design. We have been fortunate to handle a pair of Martels , stamped "Martel Freres" which were of English bore i.e. 15.24mm parallel bore and played with 1010 m'pieces. Thus Martel were adapting their own design for the English market. These clarinets plays with a "classic English" early 20th Century sound, with lots of character and projection in the tone, which will always be associated with the legendary first recording of the Brahms Quintet by Reginald Kell and the Busch String Quartet in 1933 at Abbey Road Studios in London.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0xnUmhivUg
The Bb has matching serial numbers 3038, and shows wear and tear natural to a century old clarinet. The pair were last overhauled by Jon Steward in 2011, and the invoice for this work is included in the sale. Nick Bucknall found the intonation improved by a Hite 66mm barrel. There is also much blue tack in the tone holes of the Bb to further reduce a tendency to sharpness. An original Hawkes m'piece S/N 10006, which was relayed by Jon Steward to a tip opening of 0.9mm with a medium lay is included. The Tan leather pads are all in good condition.
The A has matching serial numbers 2967, and again shows wear and tear natural to a century old clarinet. The bell tenon receiver has a tuning ring to improve intonation. Nick also used long, 67mm, Selmer barrel on the A though the original barrels are included. There are no cracks or repairs & the Tan leather pads are all in good condition. The case is a Boosey and Hawkes which, though much used, is still functional.