Klarinet Archive - Posting 000229.txt from 1998/01

From: Roger Shilcock <roger.shilcock@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: The Leblanc 340 Curved Contrabass
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 08:18:33 -0500

I don't think the term "pedal clarinet" has been current as a general term
here for many years. It originally referred to a basically
straight-up-and-down-with crooks instrument made by Besson - I think it
emerged in the late nineteenth century, and had some kind of simple system
keywork. Any general currency the term has had was probably due to the
former popularity of Cecil Forsyth's "Orchestration" - a book which was
reprinted many times without any noticeable revisions.
Roger Shilcock

On Fri, 2 Jan 1998, DGross1226 wrote:

> Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 10:26:46 EST
> From: DGross1226 <DGross1226@-----.com>
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.us
> To: jasonavhs@-----.us
> Subject: Re: The Leblanc 340 Curved Contrabass
>
> In a message dated 98-01-02 05:21:01 EST, you write:
>
> << I was wondering if anyone on the list has had experience using the Leblanc
> 340 Contrabass. (It's the curved silver one).>>
>
> Yes, I've been playing one regularly for about 7 years now.
>
> << Are there any cleaning devices or things to be aware of while playing?
> (Please note, this is the updated model that doesn't break in two. Why they
> updated it so it doesn't split, go figure...)>>
>
> They do "break in two" but the two halves are normally left assembled. The
> only time I had to take mine apart was when a horn that I had borrowed slipped
> off its peg and bent the main tube at about a 15 degree angle and had to have
> it straightened out. It's basically a socket mechanism with a hinged,
> threaded rod which is tightened with a wing nut.
>
> << Are there any mouthpiece preferences, or would any standard contrabass
> mouthpiece work? (There isn't a huge selection out there anyway).>>
>
> The original LeBlanc mpc is very large and I found that only Van Doren reeds
> are large enough. The new contra-alto/contrabass mpcs from the Woodwind
> Company work just fine. I play on an old VITO that was refaced by Tom
> Ridenaur when he was at LeBlanc. And if you won't tell anyone, I use good old
> Rico's on my contra. Also, Rovner makes ligatures for both contra alto and
> contrabass horns.
>
> << Also, a question about how it sounds. Has anyone heard it played
> specifically?>>
>
> I understand that in England the contrabass clarinets are called "pedal
> clarinets" because they emulate the sound of pedal notes on a pipe organ. I
> can tell you for sure, that I once played a low written F on the contrabass
> horn in a Richard Strauss piece and the entire horn section some 20 feet away
> felt the note thru their chairs because the horn was resonating so well with
> the stage floor.
>
> <<Would it be best to use a neckstrap, the stand, or both?>>
>
> After my initial disaster with a borrowed contra, I use both neckstrap and the
> peg. However the peg is pretty unstable. Perhaps one of the new "Weight
> Lifter" stands might be a better option.
>
> Jason, if you have any more specific questions, I'd be more than glad to
> answer them personally so we don't use up too much bandwidth on KLARINET.
>
> Don Gross
> La Canada, California
>