Klarinet Archive - Posting 000539.txt from 2002/12

From: DGross1226@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: LeBlanc "Paper-Clip" Contra Bass question
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 16:28:46 -0500

In a message dated 12/21/2002 1:08:29 PM Pacific Standard Time,
GrabnerWG@-----.com writes:

<<I'm still looking for leaks, which could cause this, but it makes me
wonder.>>

Walt,

Enlist a "helper" to make sure that all the pads related to the "register
mechanism from Hell" are either opening or closing properly while you play
the notes. I would guess that it's about a 90% surety that it's somewhere in
that mechanism.

<<Does anyone out there play one of these where the clarion register comes
out really well? Am I beating my head against the wall?>>

My low C Leblanc paper clip (which I obtained about completely overhauled
about 6 years ago from Charles Fail Music), coupled with a Woodwind
contrabass mpc refaced by Tom Ridenaur before he left Leblanc, allows me to
play any note from the written low C to the C above the staff (I really
haven't messed with trying the published fingerings for the altissimo) with
not much more air support than my Bb soprano clarinet requires. But as
anyone who plays contrabass knows, even when properly adjusted, we live with
masking/electrician's tape shims to keep the horn playing.

<<What does the repertoire require?>>

I don't have my wind ensemble folders with me right now, but most wind
composers like Frank Ticheli focus on the lowest end of the range. However,
if you are doubling bass clarinet parts, or transposing contra alto parts,
you gotta have the clarion register.

Good Luck!

Don Gross
La Canada, California

p.s. I hear that John Butler does a marvelous job on contras. I'm not sure
whether he's on KLARINET though. You might also want to post your question
to the contrabass list.

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