Klarinet Archive - Posting 000882.txt from 1997/03

From: Alan Greenfield <alang@-----.IL>
Subj: Re: A flat Clarinet??
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 15:25:44 -0500

Hello Nik
In response to your question ("What is an A flat clarinet?)
I'd like to offer that A flat clarinet is simply a clarinet that is
out of tune. It is the opposite of A sharp clarinet. The only
known solutions know to mankind (and clarinetists) to remedy this
horrible malady are:
1) Cover your ears, close the windows, and hope the police don't
give you a fine for disturbing the peace
2) Grind each piece down to sawdust and sell it to a klarinet list
junkie
3) Tell your music conductor that his hearing must be going bad
4) Go to the Mojave Desert - with the weather so hot, you'll play
higher (or move to Mongolia, where I hear they tune at A430)
5) If all else fails, make it into a lamp so it can serve some
usefull purpose ...

Seriously, the A-flat clarinet is often referred to as a "sopranino"
clarinet. In this day and age, they may still be played in some
Italian wind bands, and occasionally appear in clarinet choirs, but
other than that, there is not much music written for it. In short,
it's a lot of money for such a small piece of wood.

Good luck,

Alan Greenfield