Klarinet Archive - Posting 000340.txt from 2000/12
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: Contra advice (lots!)
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 16:14:35 -0500
Selmer makes an excellent rosewood contrabass, and an excellent
rosewood contra-alto. The contrabass is "straight", but has the
extended range to low C: I have not actually seen this horn played,
and don't know how many telephone books are required for the player
to stand on... ;-), but I understand from those who have played one
that the timbre is fantastic. I have encountered the Selmer
contra-alto, and would dearly love to replace my current contra-alto
(an old resin Buescher) with one.
I currently play bass/contra-alto/contrabass clarinets in a community
band (the San Jose Wind Symphony, http://www.sjws.org), using a
Leblanc 340 (curved to low C) contrabass. At least for the
literature that we play, I find that more works call for Bb contra
than for Eb contra, although in many cases both parts are present.
Often, the Eb contra part is unison with the bass clarinets, rather
than unison with the Bb contra. Sometimes the Bb contra part is
obviously just a transposed Eb contra part (for example, it may never
descend below the Eb contra's range, even where it would make sense
to do so). You may want to look through your band literature, and
see which part is more necessary.
The timbre of a contra-alto is generally much closer to the bass
clarinet. However, you rarely hear the contrabass by itself. I find
that I prefer the contra-alto timbre when played by itself, but that
the contrabass timbre blends well with (a) the rest of the clarinet
section, (b) the bari sax, and (c) the string bass and tuba section.
One can play *nearly* all the contra-alto literature on the
contrabass, while the contra-alto obviously cannot reach the lowest
part of the contrabass's range (and frankly, I find it easier to
reach altissimo F on the Leblanc contrabass than to get above high C
on the contra-alto: the situation may be reversed it you get a *good*
contra-alto).
Here are the choices:
-Eb curved: the metal Leblanc 350. This horn has range to low C
(AFAIK, the only contra-alto that does), and includes all the trill
keys. Price? New, it is probably about US$6-7K.
-Eb straight: your choice of wood, metal or resin. All have range to
low Eb. The metal horn would be the Leblanc 352, which lacks the RH
side keys (except for the side Eb/Bb), but is otherwise basically the
same horn as the 350 without the extended range. WW&BW lists these
for $5,395.00 (see
http://www.woodwindbrasswind.com/productlisting.jsp?node@-----. In
wood, your choices are the Selmer model 40 and the Buffet, both of
which are excellent instruments. WW&BW carries the Selmer and
Buffet, but does not show their discounted prices online (you can
find out by telephone or email). List price for the Buffet is
apparently $12,100, while the Selmer is $12,480. In resin, your
choices are Vito (Leblanc) and Selmer USA (formerly known as Bundy).
The Vito instrument also lacks the RH side keys (except for the side
Eb) and the LH1 altissimo vent, but is only $2280 (list) / $ 1,425
(WW&BW discounted). The Selmer USA lists for $2490 (discounted price
not listed), and *I think* includes the side keys. I've been told
that my Buescher is identical to the Bundy horn (if so, the Bundy
also lacks the LH1 altissimo vent).
-Bb curved: the metal Leblanc 340. This horn has range to low C, but
lacks three of the four RH side keys (it has the side Eb) and has no
altissimo vent. Despite the lack of altissimo vent, I find I can get
it up to altissimo F# without much trouble (and might get it higher
if I switched to a stiffer reed - but who needs to?). This horn,
like the 342 (straight Bb contra to low Eb) has the same bore
diameter as the Leblanc contra-alto, about 1.14". This is about the
same as the other contra-alto bores, and substantially less than the
Selmer contrabass bore (about 1.4"). WW&BW lists it for $11,950
(list) / $7095 (discounted).
-Bb straight: again, your choice of wood, metal or plastic. The
wooden Selmer model 41 has range to low C, and (I believe) all the
usual keys. I've heard that it is a fantastic instrument, but the
list price is US$22,880 (call WW&BW for discounted price). In metal,
there is the Leblanc 342, with range to low Eb (and otherwise pretty
much the same as the Leblanc 340 without the extended range). I
*have* seen this horn played, typically with the performer either
standing or sitting on a stack of chairs: the mouthpiece ends up a
fair distance above the floor... The 342 is listed at $9250 (list)/
$5595 (discounted). In resin/plastic, again you can choose between
the Vito and Selmer USA/Bundy horns. The WW&BW lists the Vito as
$4,160 (list) / $2,539 (discounted): I suspect it requires a stool as
well.
I would pick the curved Leblanc over any straight contra (except for
the Selmer, given unlimited funds). Ergonomically, the curved horn
is much easier to handle and play. It is also more versatile, as it
completely covers the contrabassoon range (should you ever need to
transpose a few parts).
The best horn for your school probably depends on your budget.
Here's what I would probably do (not that I'm a band director):
<$3K: find a 2nd hand Leblanc 340
$3K-5K: find a 2nd hand Leblanc 340 and/or 2nd hand Selmer 40 (Eb)
$5K-8K: new Leblanc 340, OR 2nd hand Leblanc 340 + 2nd hand
contra-alto (Selmer or Bundy)
$8K-11K: new Selmer 40, or new Leblanc 340 + 2nd hand contra-alto (Selmer )
$15K: new Selmer 40 AND new Leblanc 340
Of course, this assumes that the new horns are in stock and available...
Best of luck!
Grant
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green gdgreen@-----.com
ecode:contrabass http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool -> http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
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