Klarinet Archive - Posting 000186.txt from 2002/08

From: @-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] claribass
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 03:25:53 -0400

> Historically seen, and in the way of fingering it mostly is. I agree to that.
> but in the course of time, especially ater 1950, it has become an instrument
> with its own virtues. Maybe you should make a parallel to the cello and the
> double-bass. These are kind of king size violins, indeed. But nobody will
> pretend a double bass to be kind of a big violin. Both the cello and the double
> bass are instruments by themselves.

I don't want to be pedantic, but 'cello and Double bass are very different - 'cello is violin
family, DB is viol family (look at the shape at the top of the main body). 'cello strings are 5th
apart in pitch, DB 4th apart (and often an extra string!). So fingering is different throughout
the range. However, I do see what you are saying. But viola and 'cello (which are an octave
apart but otherwise the same DO require very different fingering (double-stopping an octave is
quite a different proposition). So "clarisop", clarinet, "clarialto", "claribass",
"claricontalto", "claricontbass"? No, I don't think so.

> Maybe you want to compare the clarinet situation to the saxophone situation. I
> think that will not give justice to the clarinet family. Soprano and baritone
> saxophone are much closer relatives then soprano and bass clarinet.

No I can't say that that one works for me either!

> Actually my present teacher of clarinet absolutely cannot help me with the problemd I have
> on claribass, and cannot even play it, my previous teacher was able to play it, but
> astoundingly I had to solve some problems she had with the instrument.

Yes, that is surprising. If the teacher is any good, she could probably play it well with a
little effort, and possibly appreciate the differences and suggest solutions. However, some
people can't, and I know some extremely fine clarinettists who would never consider playing
anything but Bb & A, and are honest enough to admit they just don't know about differences, and
therefore don't feel qualified to comment. Fair enough, I have no problem with either situation.

> First of all: it [bass clarinet] requires a different technique. Many fingerings are the same,
> but in the higher registers I find many deviations. And of course breathing,
> phrasing and the embouchure are different.

True, but that is true for piccolo from flute, bass flute from flute, cor anglais from oboe, ...

> And like a full-grown repertoire has developed for the 'cello, a full-grown
> repertoire is developing for the claribass. To name some works that certainly
> are conceived for claribass: Enrico Raxach: Chimaera, Schoeck: Sonata,
> Campogrande: La voce delle nuovole che non ci sono piú, Delphi: God bless the
> child, and so on. If you hear (or ever played) these works you will be convinced
> they are as much fit for the soprano clarinet as say, Paganini's "le streghe".

But I bet they are writing for Bass Clarinet not "claribass"!

> Thus from now on I will use the term "claribass" on this list or whereever (sic) the
> instrument is mentioned. But for them who continue to call the instrument a bass
> clarinet: I have no hard feelings towards them.

You can, of course call it what you will, just don't be surprised when a lot of people ask "Do you
mean bass clarinet?"

Do You Yahoo!?
Everything you'll ever need on one web page
from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts
http://uk.my.yahoo.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------