Leblanc Clarinet History
Although Leblanc has been primarily known for its student-level instruments, the company makes clarinets for all levels of players. It produces clarinets under the brands Leblanc, Noblet, and Vito and is part of Conn-Selmer.
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Origins
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Leblanc was established in 1750, during the reign of Louis XV, who emphasized music in his court. D. Noblet, a renowned maker of woodwinds and clarinets, founded the firm, which continued operating within Noblet family for over 150 years.
Georges Leblanc
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In 1904, the last member of the Noblet family died and passed the company to Georges Leblanc, also from a family of woodwind makers.
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Improvements
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The Leblanc family worked with acoustician Charles Houvenaghel to establish the first acoustical research lab, with which they refined their instruments and designed other members of the clarinet family.
Leon Leblanc
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Leblanc continued making acoustical and mechanical improvements under the direction of Georges's son Leon, a clarinetist who won the Premier Prix at the Paris Conservatoire.
Leblanc USA
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In 1946, Vito Pascucci established Leblanc USA, based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and began to emphasize the public school market.
Recent Developments
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In 1993, Leblanc USA completed its acquisition of the French Leblanc company, and in 2004, it was purchased by Conn-Selmer. Recently, Leblanc has begun collaborating with prominent clarinet companies and players, including Backun and Julian Bliss, to introduce new professional-level models.
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References
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Comments
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And then, in 2008, Conn Selmer stopped the manufacturing in France, killed the brand there, and closed the Kenosha factory to move the production, and just kept the name. It took them 4 years to definitivelly kill more than 250 years of history. Congratulations !
