Klarinet Archive - Posting 000553.txt from 1997/11

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Bis Key add on
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 09:41:42 -0500

At 04:24 AM 11/14/97 +0000, Rich Lahrson wrote:
>In an old ('92?) Jack Spratt Reed Player's Handbook there's an
>item called a Bis Key. With the clarinet in playing position it
>looks like it is attached right onto the covered tonehole right
>below the left hand index finger which operates it by shifting
>the left hand index finger slightly to the right. I'll quote:
> "Fingerings heretofore practically impossible are made easy
> with the new 'Bis Key' attachment. (See manuscript below)."
>One of the examples runs from middle C to to Eb to C to B to Eb
>to C to Eb to D to Eb. I'll quote again:
> "Boehm System Clarinets require two or three fingers to produce
> B flat. Only one finger is necessary with the new "Bis Key".
> A child can attach the "Bis Key" to a regular clarinet with
> a small screw driver. Also creates a new fingering for high
> F sharp."
>The cost is listed as $18.00. (Remember my catolog is older.)
>
Sounds like a saxophone player decided to modify his clarinet to finger
like a sax, and then decided to market it.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.