Klarinet Archive - Posting 000142.txt from 1998/03

From: Matthew Hanson <mchanson@-----.com>
Subj: alto clarinet
Date: Tue, 3 Mar 1998 04:12:32 -0500

In a round about way, the same could be said about D, C, and A clarinets
except for the fact that they are called for in so much older music.
Yes, alto clarinets are funky, but it does in fact have its own tone
color, just as other clarinets do. The design of altos MAY BE off a bit,
but regardless of "who else can cover the parts", it DOES have value.
Matthew Hanson

Kevin Fay wrote:
>
> Of course, there is simply no reason to be playing an alto clarinet at
> all. The only reason it exists is to give excess alto saxophone players
> something to do! Unlike the saxophone family--which does not have much
> overlap between the soprano and tenor--there is no tonal gap between the
> soprano and bass clarinets that would justify its existence. In
> addition, the proper construction of in ainstrument in that range would
> have a much smaller bore and mouthpiece (think basset horn), rather than
> the alto-saxophone clone that is used.
>
> Why not just paint them fancy colors and twirl them?
>
> kjf
>