Education and Social Inquiry Book

For over 40 years Jack Brymer was considered the doyen of British clarinetists. He served as principal and guest principal clarinetist with many of the London orchestras and held many important teaching positions. Throughout his career, Brymer not only became one of the foremost soloists and chamber musicians of his generation but also one of the first well-known clarinet historians.

Brymer’s "Clarinet" has been a staple monograph regarding the history of the clarinet and viewed as one of the first comprehensive histories of the instrument. The book is nicely divided into six sections each dealing with a particular aspect of the clarinet and clarinet performance. The “History and Development” section delves into the history of the instrument dating from ancient Egypt to the instruments we use today. There are numerous pictures and illustrations of historical clarinets and the different mechanisms that have been invented to improve particular aspects of the clarinet. Additional sections discuss the mechanics and physics of the instrument such as tuning, the reed, fingerings and maintenance. Two of the more interesting sections discuss Brymer’s approaches to playing and teaching the instrument. While these sections provide an interesting insight into the methods he used, many of the concepts discussed are no longer viewed, at least by some pedagogues in North America, as being the “correct” method(s) used in teaching or performance.

Whilst this book is a wealth of knowledge, it has been superseded in recent years by more comprehensive books. For a more comprehensive history of the clarinet, I would recommend Eric Hoeprich’s "The Clarinet" published by Yale University Press. Regarding pedagogical approaches to the clarinet, there are now numerous descriptive texts such as Howard Klug’s "The Clarinet Doctor" and Thomas Ridenour’s "The Educator’s Guide to the Clarinet" both of which provide a more “up-to-date” and comprehensive approach to teaching the clarinet.

However, this work remains an excellent resource and is a MUST have for any serious clarinet enthusiast; whether you are student, an amateur or a professional performer.