Klarinet Archive - Posting 001157.txt from 1997/09

From: Jim Lytthans <lytthans@-----.net>
Subj: Abs (not Abs...Ab's!)
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 23:20:54 -0400

DOn Yungkurth commented:
> I own an Albert system Ab. It is playable, but I can't play it - my fingers are too big.

Don,

I have only played an Ab briefly twice... once at the Chicago ICA show,
and again in Paris last year. Leblanc brought one as part of their
exhibit. The instrument is commonly used in Italy. The famous Rome
"Carbinieri (sp?)" Band has at least two Ab clarinets. I've heard them
live (in Venice), and the effect is wonderful. My fingers, fortunately,
are pretty narrow, so I was able to run a few scales and passages, and
not embarrass myself too much. I wonder why Leblanc is getting for
their little toy? It seems the smaller the clarinet, the higher the
price (I know it's based on the quantity produced). Not much in the way
of American clarinet choir music calls for the little pipsqueek, I
guess.
--

Jim Lytthans "Primo Arundo Donax!"
Principal Clarinet
La Mirada (CA) Symphony Orchestra
Claremont Symphonic Winds
(http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/~dooley/csw.html)
My home page:
http://home.pacbell.net/lytthans/index.html