Klarinet Archive - Posting 000049.txt from 1998/05

From: Cmdr Herel <CmdrHerel@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Piccolo Clarinet
Date: Sat, 2 May 1998 21:27:44 -0400

In a message dated 98-05-02 14:58:27 EDT, CEField@-----.com writes:

<< Is that accurate? Or
should the term sopranino be held in reserve for the tiny Ab clarinet? As a
clarinet sadomasochist, I would LOVE to try one of those to see if I could
play it in tune. >>

I got to play one today! I got to play one today! Whoo-hoo! I was at my
lesson and my teacher had a clarinet choir arrangement score out and I asked
him if he ever used Ab in his arrangements. He says, "Oh... I have a
beautiful Ab clarinet! Made in Italy in '56. Don't make 'em like that
anymore. It's in tune. These new ones you buy... can't tune 'em. They go
all whacko above an [can't remember which note he said]. But not this one..."
And he proceeded to get it out of his cabinet and pop a mouthpiece (that he
made, of course) on it and viola! I got to play one! No room for error with
your fingers. If you're just a hair off, you're hitting some other key, but
other than that, it was surprisingly easy to play. And very much in tune -
all the way up through altissimo. One neat benefit is that since the
mouthpiece is so tiny, you can stuff the whole thing in your mouth for a very
controlled sound. Have to blow like hell, though, but I can't imagine it'd be
made to do anything else with...

I myself, would be afraid to actually get good at one of these things, since
if I ever had to play for a gig, the entire planet would be able to hear each
and every miniscule mistake I might make... And all the neighborhood dogs.
But then there's power. :)

Teri Herel

PS Bonus points if you can name the author of the quote above...

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