Klarinet Archive - Posting 000627.txt from 1996/11

From: Derek Grice <dr_grice@-----.AU>
Subj: Re: Intro.........
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 1996 10:02:28 -0500

> Hello. My name is Edmund White, and I'm logging-on to introduce
>myself, as recommended in the list FAQ. I'm currently a junior at Evanston
>Township H.S. in Evanston, IL. I just recently performed with the
>all-district concert band as the second-chair bass clarinetist, but plan to
>make first-chair in the all-state group in January. My question to all
>of you is: what type of bass clarinet would you recommend for someone in
>my position? I plan to play in college, and I'm pretty active now with
>clarinet choir, orchestra (our bassoonist sucks!), and jazz and concert
>band. The school bought a plastic Selmer horn for me last year, but I
>recently purchased a '71 Selmer Paris bass from my clarinet teacher. It's a
>low Eb horn, but is in excellent mechanical condition and sounds great.
>After perusing the klarinet archives, the general trend regarding bass
>clarinets seemed to lean towards low C instruments manufactured by Leblanc,
>Selmer, or Buffet. Basically, I want to know if it's worth dropping
>$3000+ for the low C extension. Is it really necessary? The
>fourth-chair bass clarinetist in the all-district band came through with
>a new Buffet Prestige low C, but claimed she never used it in a
>performance. What's the deal?
>
>
> Edmund White
> ewhite@-----.us

What are your plans for the future? If you intend on playing in Concert
Bands then the low E flat will be fine but if you want to pursue a career
as a soloist or an orchestral player it would be in your best interests
to get either a Low C Bass or get an extension once you can save up. Also
make sure you pratice your ordinary soprano clarinet as well because it is
always needed, whether solo wise or doubling on it in orchestra. You just
never know when you will need the low C, mawbe a student composer might
write down that low in a compostion for you!!!

Derek
Australia