Herbert Couf
Encyclopedia
Herbert "Herb" Couf was an American
clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, former music store owner, former music instrument manufacturer executive, and former importer of music instruments. Couf had been the principal clarinetist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
under Paul Paray
until the 1957 recession, when the orchestra laid off several musicians.
Couf subsequently opened a music store – "The Royal Music Center" – in Royal Oak, Michigan
, just north of Detroit. He later produced his own line of saxophones, clarinets, and mouthpieces under the name H. Couf. H. Couf saxophones were manufactured in Germany by Julius Keilwerth
. H. Couf clarinets were made in the United States by Artley, Inc. (Artley became part of Conn-Selmer
). Couf later became Vice President of W. T. Armstrong Company, Inc. (Indiana corporation: 1955–1988, merged with C. G. Conn
) upon selling his line of instruments to Armstrong. Couf also had been the conductor of the Royal Oak Concert Band, Royal Oak, Michigan
.
and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
.
For a few years the Superbas were available in black lacquer. The engraving was done after the lacquer which provided a stunning visual affect of being able to see the engraving from a distance. This models had metal thumbrests and were probably late 70's models.
, Kiev
, Ukraine
) and Rebeca ( Rivka Needelman; b. 16 May 1896 Russia
; d. Sep 1981 Atlantic City) — Morris and Rebeca were married November 15, 1917, in Manhattan
, New York City
. Morris Couf had become a naturalized citizen March 1, 1916, in New York.
Herbert Couf was married to Miriam ("Mickey") Couf. They had two daughters, Karen Eve Couf-Cohen (married to Gerald Irwin Cohen, MD) and Donna Andrea Reyes (married to Armando G. Reyes). Herbert Couf also had two brothers, Norman Couf (1925–2008) and Albert B. Couf (1931–2004)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, former music store owner, former music instrument manufacturer executive, and former importer of music instruments. Couf had been the principal clarinetist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
under Paul Paray
Paul Paray
Paul Paray was a French conductor, organist and composer. He is best remembered in the United States for being the resident conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for more than a decade. He married Yolande Falck on 25 August 1944.-Biography:Paray's father, Auguste, was a sculptor and organist...
until the 1957 recession, when the orchestra laid off several musicians.
Couf subsequently opened a music store – "The Royal Music Center" – in Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
, just north of Detroit. He later produced his own line of saxophones, clarinets, and mouthpieces under the name H. Couf. H. Couf saxophones were manufactured in Germany by Julius Keilwerth
Julius Keilwerth
The Julius Keilwerth company, now merged with W. Schreiber & Söhne as Schreiber & Keilwerth Musikinstrumente GmbH, is a German saxophone manufacturer, established in 1925. Over the years it has made saxophones under the Conn, H. Couf, and Armstrong brands, and currently as Julius Keilwerth.-Early...
. H. Couf clarinets were made in the United States by Artley, Inc. (Artley became part of Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of concert band, marching band, and orchestral instruments. It is a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments and was formed after Steinway bought musical instrument manufacturers The Selmer Company and C.G. Conn.-Founding:In the late 1800s,...
). Couf later became Vice President of W. T. Armstrong Company, Inc. (Indiana corporation: 1955–1988, merged with C. G. Conn
C. G. Conn
C.G. Conn Ltd., sometimes called Conn Instruments or commonly just Conn, was a United States manufacturer of musical instruments, especially brass instruments. In 1985 their Strobotuner division was bought by Peterson Electro-Musical Products, who continue to service their line of products.Assets...
) upon selling his line of instruments to Armstrong. Couf also had been the conductor of the Royal Oak Concert Band, Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
.
Earlier years
Couf had also performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraPittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District.-History:...
and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a professional American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland.In September 2007, Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s twelfth music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra.The BSO Board...
.
Compositions and publications
- Introduction, Dance, and Furioso, solo saxophone in three movements (1959)
- Learning the Saxophone: A Sound and Correct Beginning Foundation, Armstrong Pub. Co. (1975)
H Couf stenciled instruments
1965–1980s- Saxophone; soprano, alto pictures, tenor, bari: Superba I (pro model with an F# key) – manufactured by Keilwerth and similar to its Toneking Special
- - rolled tone holes throughout the range of saxes, except for the soprano.
- - elegant, soldered, bell brace
- - full bell & bow engraving
- - lyre holder part of mouthpipe socket clamp mechanism (except soprano)
- - neck upper octave key made from thick square brass rod
- - bow soldered directly to bow via an expanded section
- - no rings used to combine sections
- - early superba 1s do not have a high F# key; mid-early Superba 1s have a high F# key
- - early and mid-early superba I & IIs have a RH see-saw type F# key: later Superba I & IIs have a levered F# key
- - all post to body construction (no ribs)
- - early saxes had a removable metal thumbrest; late model sopranos and altos had plastic thumbrests; the plastic thumbrest had a 2 point connection; this prevented breaking which awas a problem on Selmer models at that time
- Saxophone; soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass: Superba II (pro model with an F# key) – manufactured by Keilwerth and similar to its Toneking
- - straight tone holes throughout the range of saxes plus the Superba 1 soprano.
- - single rod bell brace
- - bell engraving
- - lyre holder soldered on separately below the mouthpipe socket sleeve
- - neck upper octave key made from round brass wire
- - bow soldered directly to bow via and expanded section. Bow soldered directly to body via an expanded section.
- - no rings used to combine sections
- - early and mid-early Superba I & IIs have a right-hand see-saw type F# key; later Superba I & IIs have a levered F# key
- - all post to body construction (no ribs)
- - all thumbrests were metal and soldered in a permanent position on the body
For a few years the Superbas were available in black lacquer. The engraving was done after the lacquer which provided a stunning visual affect of being able to see the engraving from a distance. This models had metal thumbrests and were probably late 70's models.
- Saxophone; alto & tenor: Royalist and Royalist II (intermediate models) – manufactured by Armstrong in Elkhart and were similar to Keilwerth's New King
Family
Herbert Couf was born to Morris Couf (born 2 September 1889 BogoslovBohuslav
Bohuslav is a city on the Ros' River in Kiev Oblast of Ukraine. It is the administrative centre of Bohuslavskyi Raion. The population is 17,135 ....
, Kiev
Kiev Oblast
Kyiv Oblast, sometimes written as Kiev Oblast is an oblast in central Ukraine.The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Kyiv , also being the capital of Ukraine...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
) and Rebeca ( Rivka Needelman; b. 16 May 1896 Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
; d. Sep 1981 Atlantic City) — Morris and Rebeca were married November 15, 1917, in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Morris Couf had become a naturalized citizen March 1, 1916, in New York.
Herbert Couf was married to Miriam ("Mickey") Couf. They had two daughters, Karen Eve Couf-Cohen (married to Gerald Irwin Cohen, MD) and Donna Andrea Reyes (married to Armando G. Reyes). Herbert Couf also had two brothers, Norman Couf (1925–2008) and Albert B. Couf (1931–2004)