Klarinet Archive - Posting 000909.txt from 1998/04

From: "Jason Hsien" <jasonavhs@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Ab Clarinet
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 06:05:30 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: Emerald1 <emerald1@-----.net>

|I've only played the instrument a few times; but I never had problems
|playing it; and I have quite large hands. I must disagree with it being
|called a "novelty instrument". There's quite alot of literature out there
|that calls for it. If you want to call something a novelty instrument, how
|about an BBBb OctoContraBass Clarinet; BBBb Sub-contrabass sax; or a Bb
|sopranissimo saxophone. Now those are "novelty instruments"!!!
|Tristan Carpenter

I agree entirely. Ab's can be found if you look for them, and aren't that
rare at all. Now... Sarrusaphones, those are rare. (psst! Octocontrabass and
Sub-contrabass are the same thing!)

And... whoo... anyone seen that picture of Georges Leblanc playing a Leblanc
Octocontraalto clarinet? or seen the diagram of the Octocontrabass next to
the bass clarinet? I heard only one octocontrabass was ever made and it's in
the G. Leblanc Private Museum in Paris. (not sure)

Now, THOSE are novelty items!