Klarinet Archive - Posting 000270.txt from 1996/11

From: Francis Firth <Francis.Firth@-----.uk>
Subj: Subcontrabass (Octocontralto/Octocontrabass) Clarinets
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 05:39:00 -0500

These instruments were discussed a year or so ago on the list and I just
thought that I would update people with my findings:
1. Only the 1 experimental octocontrabass clarinet was made. It descends
to
its low C (sounding Bb) and is the property of Leon Leblanc (now 90) in
La
Couture Boussey, France. It was developed c. 1938.
2. Apparently 3 octocontralto clarinets were made. One was shown in 1972
in
USA and was illustrated in Woodwind World September 1972. Part of that
illustration but larger and showing the instrument in much more detail
was
reproduced in the special issue (Vol. XIX parts 2-3) of Leblanc Bell
this
summer (1996).
There were plans to manufacture this instrument commercially but it
proved
too expensive apparently.
Leon leblanc (I think) owns one of the 3 instruments made (did Lucien
Caillet
have another?)
3. There are some compositions for/using the instruments by the Norwegian
clarinettist, Terje Lerstad and facsimile scores are available from the

Norwegian Music Information Centre. The pieces are Triosonata for
subbass recorder, octocontrabass clarinet, bongos and harmonium; De
Profundis for Alto Voice, Clarinets (including acoustic octocontrabass
and
amplified octocontralto), tape and string quartet; Mirrors in Ebony for

Clarinet Choir which includes both these instruments (both have solos).
Terje Lerstad did play both these instruments at Leblanc when it was in

Paris in the 70s.
4. I have written, on behalf of myself and members of contrabass-l (see
Grant
Green's Homepage ( http://www.crl.com/~gdgreen/) with Contrabass-l
archive for details) to Leblanc in both France and Kenosha, WI to try
to
persuade them to make a recording featuring these instruments. if you
would like to have such a recording please write to or mail Leblanc in
either
France or Kenosha (or even better both) to ask them to put this project
into
effect.
5. The correct terminology is octocontrabass (NOT octobass) and
octocontralto.
Francis Firth
Francis.Firth@-----.uk