Klarinet Archive - Posting 000145.txt from 1998/06

From: Shouryu Nohe <jnohe@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Higher notes on the Contrabass?
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 03:59:49 -0400

Hoffman writes:
> So, you finger, for example, D with LH1, LH2, LH3, and RH3? Do you use the
> Eb key at all? And E is LH1, LH2, LH3? That doesn't seem like it woul dwork.
> Am I understanding this correctly?

Chris, you play it just like a Beefer, only you add the R3 finger.
Altissimo is this:

0 0 0 0 0
* * * * *
* * * *x 0
- - - - -
* * 0 0 0
0 O Fork 0 0 0
* * * * *

D Eb E F F#

The fingerings are the same, just with the R3 finger. The finger doesn't
affect pitch - it opens the lower register mechanism, which is easier to
play the altissimo on than the higher register mechanism. You're just
changing register keys, that's all. This makes the notes speak easier.

A little lip work, follow the Klose' fingering chart, and you can go all
the way up to C.

As for Grant's comment as to needing a High C....in our woodwind ensemble,
Josh is our bassist. And he's a lousy one (he admits it). This is
because he didn't play bass until this semester, and the ensemble was a
good opportunity to get some experience. During a few upper range
bass solis, he was having trouble with the upper clarion, which is
understandable (heck, it took a year and a half before I could play that
range - he can play them already, just not consistently.). So, to help
him out, I read the cues on my part, and transposed up an octave to match
him and support him. (The part only went up to a Bb, but I've
experimented up to a C on my own.)

It's a nice challenge, and it also helped him a bit. Contra parts aren't
always available, so sometimes we just double bass parts. And it wouldn't
be appropriate to play them in the wrong octave, eh? ^_^

Shouryu Nohe
Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe; ICQ 6771552
Coffee Drinker, Musician, Otaku, Jesus Freak, Admirer of Women
(Not necessarily in that order)
--------------------------------------------------------------
"A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd."
- Max Lucado (The Eva quotes will return later. ^_^ )

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