Klarinet Archive - Posting 000003.txt from 1998/03

From: Jennifer Rose McKenna <jrm0013@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: alto mpcs
Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 00:31:33 -0500

*cringe*....marching bass clarinets.....my thumb is still recovering....the
blisters from my neck strap left scars....bad memories

On Fri, 27 Feb 1998 16:04:29 -0600 (CST) Roger Garrett
<rgarrett@-----.edu> wrote:
> I have not actually seen a Texas marching contest......only heard about
> them. On the field, a plastic bass clarinet can add color......but so can
> a well-played tenor saxophone....in the same basic range. The alto
> clarinet, on the other hand, is a waste of time on the field regardless of
> what Texas does. The tone does not carry far enough to help the overall
> tonal color, and the range is similar to the Alto and Tenor Saxophones as
> well as the alto horns/mellophones/marching french horns. There simply is
> no reason to mess with this particular color clarinet.
>
> Roger Garrett
> IWU
>
> On Fri, 27 Feb 1998, Matthew Hanson wrote:
> > You obviously haven't visited a marching contest in East Texas. Not only
> > do they march alto clarinets, they march with basses as well. This is
> > very common. Depending on the size of the school or band, I've seen
> > anywhere from 1 to 14 bass clarinets marched in the East Texas bands.
> > Most of them still march military. This is actually more impressive than
> > it may sound. Of course since it is military style, they are usually in
> > straight lines, or rows. I've been to state marching contest and seen Eb
> > contras marched due to small tuba section. It worked somehow.
> > As for the alto mouthpiece, a Selmer C* will work fine, but if on a
> > student budget stick with the inexpensive Bundy. After all, it is for
> > marching.
> > Matthew Hanson
> > Houston, TX