Annotated Checklist of Mazzeo System Clarinets In 1961, Rosario Mazzeo (1911-1997) gave Selmer the exclusive license to manufacture Mazzeo system clarinets.  The instruments utilize Boehm system fingering with several significant modifications.  All Mazzeo system instruments incorporate the following: 1.  New B-flat':  Played with a' key and any one or combination of left-hand second finger or right-hand first, second, or third fingers.  Same fingerings, minus a' key, produce a'.  Traditional b-flat' and a' fingerings also available. 2.  Left-hand thumb plateau key. 3.  Ringless bell:  Bell has less flare at bottom and no bell ring. The following are featured on full and modified Mazzeo system models: 1.  E-flat'/b-flat'' may be played with thumb, first, and third fingers and d-flat'/a-flat'' key of left hand. 2.  B' to c-sharp'' keys articulated. 3.  Alternate left-hand a-flat/e-flat'' key available. Bibliography: Rosario Mazzeo, Mazzeo Clarinet Manual (Philadelphia:  Henri Elkan, 1960). Rosario Mazzeo, The Clarinet:  Excellence and Artistry (Sherman Oaks, California:  Alfred Publishing Co., 1981). Makers: Buffet-Crampon & Cie Chedeville, Edmond Selmer, H. & A. Selmer, Henri:  1953; 1961; 1963/1967; 1967 Mazzeo System Clarinets (in chronological order) NMM 5828. Clarinet in B-flat, Edmond Chedeville, Paris, ca. 1925.  Four sections.  Stamped on barrel, top joint, and bottom joint:  EDMOND / CHEDEVILLE / PARIS; near top on top joint:  LP; near middle on bottom joint:  Bb; on bell:  B / [eagle] / PENZEL MULLER / NEW YORK (in oval cartouche along with PENZEL MULLER) / U.S.N.  Grenadilla, German silver ferrules.  Extensive custom modifications designed by Mazzeo ca. 1960.  Nineteen German-silver keys, seven German-silver rings.  Modifications include new b-flat' operated by a' key and right hand first, second, or third fingers; articulated b' to c-sharp '' keys; additional left hand a-flat/e-flat'' key; five right hand side keys.  Length (top of barrel to bottom of bell), 591 mm.  Rosario Mazzeo Collection, 1995. NMM 6113. Clarinet in B-flat by Henri Selmer, Paris, 1953.  Two sections (missing barrel and bell) which have been permanently screwed together.  Stamped on top joint:  DEPOSE / HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (in wreath with HENRI / SELMER) / FRANCE / Centered (in script) / Tone (in script); on bottom joint: HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (all in wreath).  Number [asterisk] / P6999.  Unfinished experimental full-Boehm model.  Grenadilla, German-silver ferrule.  Most keys and all rings removed.  Toneholes for a' and register key have been plugged and redrilled in different locations.  Custom modifications include:  wrap around to side register key; extra long left-hand g-sharp' key; repositioned a' key; large left-hand thumb plateau key; elongated right-hand e-flat'/b-flat'' key; split touchpieces on right-hand f/c'' and e-flat/b-flat' keys.  Length (top of top joint to bottom of bottom joint, excluding tenons), 460 mm.  Rosario Mazzeo Collection, 1998. Lit.:  Deborah Check Reeves, "The Mazzeo System Clarinet:  An Historical Review," The Clarinet, Vol. 26, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 62-64. NMM 6116.  Clarinet in B-flat, unfinished experimental prototype, ca. 1955.  One piece body only.  German silver.  Tone holes not drilled through.  Five keys, four rings, one left-hand plateau key, twelve pad-covered tone holes, extra large right-hand thumb rest.  Length (from very top to very bottom), 487 mm.  Rosario Mazzeo Collection, 1998. Lit.:  Deborah Check Reeves, "The Mazzeo System Clarinet:  An Historical Review," The Clarinet, Vol. 26, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 62-64. NMM 5832. Clarinet in A by Henri Selmer, Paris, 1961.  Four sections.  Stamped on top joint:  MAZZEO / SYSTEM / DEPOSE / HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (in wreath with HENRI / SELMER) / FRANCE / [star] / U. S. PATENT 2,867,143 (on back); on barrel:  HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (all in wreath) / A / MADE IN FRANCE (lower) / 2 mm.L (on back); on bottom joint:  HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (all in wreath); on bell:  MAZZEO / SYSTEM / HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (in wreath with HENRI / SELMER); on bell back: MADE IN FRANCE . Number S4783.  Grenadilla, German-silver ferrules.  Twenty German-silver keys, five German-silver rings, one German-silver plateau key.  Modified Mazzeo system with custom modifications designed by Mazzeo ca. 1968.  Modifications include:  elongated left hand g-sharp' key; German silver plate attached to left hand thumb plateau key; c-sharp'/g-sharp'' key extension that is operated with right hand; left hand "Bis" key.  Rosario Mazzeo's U.S. patent #2,867,146 (1959).  Length (top of barrel to bottom of bell), 640 mm.  Part of a set with No. 5831.  Rosario Mazzeo Collection, 1995. Lit.:  Deborah Check Reeves, "The Mazzeo System Clarinet:  An Historical Review," The Clarinet, Vol. 26, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 62-64. NMM 6115. Clarinet in B-flat by H. & A. Selmer (Bundy division), Elkhart, after 1961.  Four sections.  Stamped on bell:  [star] / BUNDY / [star] (in badge with [star] / BUNDY) / RESONITE / MADE BY / Selmer / [R within a circle] / Elkhart, Indiana; on top joint:  MAZZEO / SYSTEM / [star] / BUNDY / [star] (in badge with [star] / BUNDY); on back of top joint:  U.S. PATENT 2,867,146.  Number 202328.  Resonite, German-silver ferrules.  Basic Mazzeo system.  Seventeen German-silver keys, five German-silver rings, one German-silver left-hand thumb plateau key.  Rosario Mazzeo's U.S. patent #2,867,146 (1959).  Length (top of barrel to bottom of bell), 598 mm.  Mouthpiece of ebonite stamped:  HENRI / SELMER /PARIS (all in wreath) / HS [star] / MADE IN FRANCE.  Rosario Mazzeo Collection, 1998. Lit.:  Deborah Check Reeves, "The Mazzeo System Clarinet:  An Historical Review," The Clarinet, Vol. 26, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 62-64. NMM 6114. Clarinet in B-flat by H. & A. Selmer (Bundy division), Elkhart, after 1961.  Four sections.  Stamped on bell:  [star] / BUNDY / [star] (in badge with [star] / BUNDY) / RESONITE / MADE BY / Selmer / [R within a circle] / Elkhart, Indiana; on top joint:  MAZZEO / [star] / BUNDY / [star] (in badge with [star] / BUNDY); on back of top joint:  U.S. PATENT 2,867,146.  Number 261543.  Resonite, German-silver ferrules.  Basic Mazzeo system.  Seventeen German-silver keys, five German-silver rings, one German-silver left-hand thumb plateau key.  Rosario Mazzeo's U.S. patent #2,867,146 (1959).  Length (top of barrel to bottom of bell), 598 mm.  Mouthpiece of ebonite stamped:  Geo. M. Bundy (in script and underlined) / 3.  Rosario Mazzeo Collection, 1998. Lit.:  Deborah Check Reeves, "The Mazzeo System Clarinet:  An Historical Review," The Clarinet, Vol. 26, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 62-64. NMM 5830. Clarinet in B-flat by Henri Selmer, Paris, 1963 (bottom joint), 1967 (top joint).  Four section.  Stamped on top joint:  MAZZEO / MODEL / DEPOSE / HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (in wreath with HENRI / SELMER) / FRANCE; on bell :  HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (all in wreath) / SERIES / [leaves] 10 [leaves] / B (in script); on bell back: MADE IN FRANCE ; on bottom joint:  HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (all in wreath); on barrel:  HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (all in wreath) / [star].  Bottom joint number T4778, top joint number V2848.  Grenadilla, German silver ferrules.  Twenty-one German-silver keys, five German-silver rings, one German-silver plateau key.  Modified Mazzeo system with extensive custom modifications by Dennis Heaney, Santa Cruz, and Norman Benner, San Jose, ca. 1968.  Mazzeo called this:  "Famous California Custom Clarinet."  Modifications include:  elongated register key; brass plate attached to left-hand thumb plateau key; elongated left-hand g-sharp' key; leftward turning a' key; left hand "Bis" key; c-sharp'/g-sharp'' key extension that is operated with right hand; extra right-hand side key with overlapping extensions on other right-hand side keys.  Length (top of barrel to bottom of bell), 594 mm.  Rosario Mazzeo Collection, 1995. Lit.:  Rosario Mazzeo, The Clarinet:  Excellence and Artistry (Sherman Oaks, California:  Alfred Publishing Co., 1981), pp. 119 (illus.), 153-161. Deborah Check Reeves, "The Mazzeo System Clarinet:  An Historical Review," The Clarinet, Vol. 26, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 62-64. NMM 5831. Clarinet in B-flat by Henri Selmer, Paris, 1963 (top joint), 1967 (bottom joint).  Four sections.  Stamped on top joint:  MAZZEO / SYSTEM / DEPOSE / HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (in wreath with HENRI / SELMER) / FRANCE / [star] / U. S. PATENT 2,867,146 (on back);  on barrel:  HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (all in wreath) / FRANCE / B (in script); on bottom joint:  HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (in wreath along with HENRI / SELMER); on bell:  HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (in wreath along with HENRI / SELMER) / MAZZEO / SYSTEM / MADE IN FRANCE (on back).  Top joint number T4778, bottom joint number V2848.  Grenadilla, German-silver ferrules.  Twenty German-silver keys, five German-silver rings, one German-silver plateau key.  Modified Mazzeo system with custom modifications designed by Mazzeo ca. 1968.    Modifications include:  elongated register key; elongated left-hand g-sharp' key; brass plate attached to left-hand thumb plateau key; extra right-hand side key with overlapping extensions on other right hand side keys; c-sharp'/g-sharp'' key extension that is operated with right hand.  Rosario Mazzeo's U.S. patent #2,867,146 (1959).  Length (top of barrel to bottom of bell), 600 mm.  Part of a set with No. 5832.  Rosario Mazzeo Collection, 1995. Lit.:  Deborah Check Reeves, "The Mazzeo System Clarinet:  An Historical Review," The Clarinet, Vol. 26, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 62-64. NMM 5863. Clarinet in C by Henri Selmer, Paris, 1967.  Stamped on top joint:  MAZZEO / MODEL / DEPOSE / HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (in wreath with HENRI / SELMER) / FRANCE; on barrel:  HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (all in wreath) / 9;  on bottom joint:  (mark obscured by post) / SELMER / PARIS (all in wreath); on back of bottom joint:  U. S. PATENT / ONE OR MORE / OF FOLLOWING: / 2,867,146 / 3,035,473 / 3,150,553 / 3,204,512; on bell:  HENRI / SELMER / PARIS (all in wreath) / MAZZEO / SYSTEM.  Number V1840.  Grenadilla, German-silver ferrules.  Nineteen German-silver keys, five German-silver rings, one German-silver plateau key.  Modified Mazzeo system with some modifications.  Modifications include:  left-hand "Bis" key; c-sharp'/g-sharp'' key extension that is operated with right hand; no alternate left-hand a-flat/e-flat'' key.  Rosario Mazzeo, U.S. patents #2,867,146 (1959), #3,035,473 (1962), #3,150,553 (1964), and #3,204,512 (1965).  Length (top of barrel to bottom of bell), 515 mm.  Rosario Mazzeo Collection, 1995. Lit.:  Deborah Check Reeves, "The Mazzeo System Clarinet:  An Historical Review," The Clarinet, Vol. 26, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 62-64. NMM 5834. Clarinet in B-flat by Buffet-Crampon and Cie., Paris, 1970.  Four sections.  Stamped on barrel, top joint, bottom joint, and bell:  [lyre] / BUFFET / Crampon & Cie (in script) /  A PARIS (in oval cartouche with BUFFET / Crampon & Cie) / BC [monogram] / MADE IN FRANCE; on barrel near bottom:  B67; on top joint below signature:  BC20.  Number F114269.  Grenadilla, German-silver ferrules.  Twenty-one German-silver keys, five German-silver rings, one German-silver plateau key.  Extensive custom modifications by Dennis Heaney, Santa Cruz, and Norman Benner, San Jose, ca. 1970.  Mazzeo called this:  "Famous California Custom Clarinet."  Has all features of modified Mazzeo system.  Modifications include:  elongated register key; German-silver plate attached to left-hand thumb plateau key; elongated left-hand g-sharp' key; leftward turning a' key; left-hand "Bis" key; c-sharp'/g-sharp'' key extension that is operated with right hand; extra right-hand side key with overlapping extensions on other right-hand side keys.  Length (top of barrel to bottom of bell), 601 mm.  Part of a set with No. 5833.  Rosario Mazzeo Collections, 1995. Lit.:  Rosario Mazzeo, The Clarinet:  Excellence and Artistry (Sherman Oaks, California:  Alfred Publishing Co., 1981), pp. 119 (illus.), 153-161. Deborah Check Reeves, "The Mazzeo System Clarinet:  An Historical Review," The Clarinet, Vol. 26, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 62-64. NMM 5833. Clarinet in A by Buffet-Crampon and Cie., Paris, 1970.  Four sections.  Stamped on barrel, top joint, bottom joint, and bell:  [lyre] / BUFFET / Crampon & Cie (in script) /  A PARIS (in oval cartouche with BUFFET / Crampon & Cie) / BC [monogram] / MADE IN FRANCE; on top joint below signature:  BC2 (last number illegible under post).  Number F114707.  Grenadilla, German-silver ferrules.  Twenty-one German-silver keys, five German-silver rings, one German-silver plateau key.  Extensive custom modifications by Dennis Heaney, Santa Cruz, and Norman Benner, San Jose, ca. 1970.  Mazzeo called this:  "Famous California Custom Clarinet."  Has all features of modified Mazzeo system.  Modifications include:  elongated register key; German-silver plate attached to left-hand thumb plateau key; elongated left-hand g-sharp' key; leftward turning a' key; left-hand "Bis" key; c-sharp'/g-sharp'' key extension that is operated with right hand; extra right-hand side key with overlapping extensions on other right-hand side keys.  Length (top of barrel to bottom of bell), 636 mm.  Part of a set with NMM 5834.  Rosario Mazzeo Collections, 1995. Lit.:  Rosario Mazzeo, The Clarinet:  Excellence and Artistry (Sherman Oaks, California:  Alfred Publishing Co., 1981), 153-161. Deborah Check Reeves, "The Mazzeo System Clarinet:  An Historical Review," The Clarinet, Vol. 26, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 62-64. Link to Rosario Mazzeo Collection page. National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD   57069 ©National Music Museum, 2002, 2003 Most recent update:   May 6, 2003 You are the 24,454th visitor to this page since March 12, 2002. College of Fine Arts The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page