Klarinet Archive - Posting 000500.txt from 1997/05

From: peter.stoll@-----.ca
Subj: Re: (Fwd) More vernacular
Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 18:21:27 -0400

No, definitely no stupid questions...
"Vent tube"="register tube"= the round metal insert going up into the bore
from under the register (thumb) key, which ="speaker key"(this is the one
you use to go into the 2nd register, ie.finger low E, add this thumb key,
get a B natural "over the break".

"Sliver key"=there are 2 actually, one on upper joint between 2nd and 3rd
hole on top and used to play Eb in 1st register and Bb in second with the
3rd left finger, and on lower joint between 2nd and 3rd holes and used to
play B natural in 1st register and F sharp in 2nd register. The narrow
width of these keys (to prevent accidentally catching them with fingers
and opening the keys) has led to them being called "sliver keys".

"Throat"tones are those played with the minimum of clarinet body
resonating, ie.open G, Ab, A and Bb with the keys on top of the
instrument played with the side of the left index finger. Called throat
partially because the sound of these notes is the least resonant of all,
thus "throaty"and partially I suppose because this part of the clarinet
corresponds to the top of the human torso,ie.the throat!

Altissimo notes (this is Italian for "very top") are indeed those above
C3 above treble clef staff. Double octave key refers to the fact that on
bass clarinet, there are separate holes to help "throat Bb" sound
clearly, and to activate 2nd register (if you look at either a Buffet or
Selmer instrument under the top of the upper joint, you'll see these 2
holes plus all the key linkage necessary to work them).

Good questions!
Peter Stoll
Instructor, University of Toronto

On Sat, 17 May 1997, Chuck and Dorothy Bishop wrote:

> Forwarded message:
> From: Self <Single-user mode>
> To: majordomo@-----.us
> Subject: More vernacular
> Reply-to: bishop@-----.net
> Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 21:00:34
>
> I have been lurking the Klarinet net for several months and have
> learned the meaning of many words that never came up in many years
> of amateur concert band playing, Now that it was establishd a while
> back that there is no such thing as a dumb question I am encouraged
> to ask a few questions. I was able, of course, to answer many myself
> but I still have a few mysteries. Perhaps someone would be willing
> to take a few minutes to explain:
> Vent tube
> Register tube
> Speaker key
> Sliver key
> Throat
> What does a double Octive Key look like?
> Can I asume that the altisimo notes are those above high C?
> These questions arise from messages on the net.
> Chuck
>