Klarinet Archive - Posting 000383.txt from 1998/08

From: Grant Green <gdgreen@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Articulated G#
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 20:28:21 -0400

At 06:34 PM 8/13/98, you wrote:
>This thread got me thinking ... the articulated G# on saxophones is one of
>the few clear advantages the sax has over the clarinet in terms of
>mechanism. Otherwise, they are quite lacking in alternate fingerings,
>compared to the Boehm system and its offspring. Am I correct in thinking
>that the mechanism Adolphe Sax devised is still in use? If so, why hasn't
>the sax evolved as the clarinet has?

The mechanism *has* evolved, somewhat. The original Sax saxophones had two
separate octave keys (instead of the modern "automatic" octave key), and
had keywork down to low B (not Bb or A) and up to Eb (not F, F#, or G, as
one can now find). The low Bb, high E, high F, and front F were all added
later (and high F# and G added relatively recently). I don't recall if the
original G# key was articulated, or if the "fork" fingering (LH1 RH1) for
Bb was enabled. The sarrusophone still has all these "features" (except
that the keywork range is low Bb to high D, with notes above that accessed
by altissimo fingerings).

What alternate fingerings would you like?

>I can't imagine how to put rings on the thing, but couldn't a few alternate
>little-finger keys have been added, making those clumsy rollers
>unnecessary? After all, there are plateau clarinets without open holes.

Well, they're used only on the lowest few notes of the horn (Bb, B, C#) -
it isn't like the clarinet, where one uses all the little finger keys again
in the middle of the staff. I suppose one *could* put an alternate B or Bb
key on RH4, but one would then need a mechanism to hold down the low C key
(also RH4) when the alternate was in use (like the way low E and F# hold
down the F key on clarinet). I suppose the makers have decided that the
extra keywork necessary wasn't warranted for the few notes involved.

Not sure I understand the reference to open holes, but one could make an
open-hole sax. The Hungarian taragoto is very similar to the soprano sax,
and has a number of open finger holes. There is even a flute maker making
open-hole *bass* flutes (using perforated pads).

BTW, the articulated G# can be one of the more problematic keys to adjust:
it is sprung to come open when all the levers holding it down are lifted.
If the pad is sticky, sometimes the spring isn't strong enough to open the
pad.

Grant

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant D. Green gdgreen@-----.com
www.contrabass.com Just filling in on sarrusophone
Contrabass email list: list@-----.com
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