Klarinet Archive - Posting 000267.txt from 1998/09

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Straight altos [was Re: [kl] C-straight soprano sax]
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 17:38:56 -0400

On Tue, 8 Sep 1998, Mitch Bassman wrote:

> In fact, when I actually *was* listening to someone else play the
> straight alto, it didn't seem to sound quite so different to me. I
> assumed that it was my perception of the sound related to what I was
> accustomed to hearing when the sound really was directed back at me
> through a curved bell. When I listened to someone else playing, it also
> sounded different (please don't make me say "darker"), but not as
> different as what I "felt" when I played it myself.

For anyone who can play trombone at least a little, or who can make some
kind of sound on one which is recognizable as a trombone, try playing a
few notes in the normal manner, and then turn the bell section around so
that the tubing is on the right side of the head and the slide is operated
by the left hand. It tends to sound entirely different to the player in
these two configurations. I think it indicates that hearing in our two
ears is not linear. The same thing has been noted by flute players in
playing the same flute or alto flute with a straight or a curved
headjoint. With the curved one, the body of the instrument and therefore
the primary source of the sound is brought closer to the head. They say
that the instrument sounds completely different. However, other listeners
can't perceive so much change.

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu

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