Klarinet Archive - Posting 000624.txt from 1997/05

From: Stephen Froehlich <shorthnd@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: (Fwd) More vernacular
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 23:46:37 -0400

On Sun, 18 May 1997 peter.stoll@-----.ca wrote:

> "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".

I grew up calling these banana keys. I still think the term is
more descriptive (grin)

> 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).

One note, on many pro bass clarinets, the "double octave" key is
also in the "throat" configuration you describe for B,C,C#,D, & D#, and is
activated by the G/D key with a bridge across the joint. This was
Selmer's invention but I've seen in on Yahamas also.

L8er,
Stephen Froehlich