Klarinet Archive - Posting 000162.txt from 1995/03

From: Stella Page <sp@-----.UK>
Subj: Re: Alto Clarinet
Date: Mon, 6 Mar 1995 06:46:26 -0500

Having fairly recently joined the list, I've been interested in
reading, amongst other interesting discussions, about the passions (and
otherwise) aroused by the Eb sop and now alto clarinets.

Until recently I never had the opportunity to play any of the less
"standard" instruments although I have always had a leaning towards
sounds in the lower registers, and do own a bass. However, since
joining a clarinet choir some months ago I have been lucky enough to
get the opportunity to play both alto clarinet and basset horn (the
choir has 2 bassets, of which I have a distinct preference for 1), and
now I am prepared almost to fight tooth and nail to play either.

Why? Well, firstly it has to do with the pitch and tone of the
instruments. Perhaps I am lucky in that the alto, and my preferred
basset, are good instruments and I have, so far, not experienced the
tuning problems that others have mentioned. Another, and I think main,
reason I enjoy playing either alto or basset so much is that I am in
the "middle" of the parts and, in general, the alto parts are less
technically demanding from the fingering point of view. This means I
actually get more space to listen to the whole group which, for me, is
one of the joys of ensemble playing anyway. To be able to do this
while playing an instrument that I enjoy the sound of makes Wednesday
evenings one of the highlights of my week.

Stella (sticking up for the alto!)
Stella Page email:s.page@-----.uk
- hybrid Research Assistant, system mangler and dogsbody
(I glare at the system, it glares back - "woof bloody woof")
Centre for Software Reliability, City University, Northampton Square,
London EC1V OHB, England.