Klarinet Archive - Posting 000504.txt from 2004/09

From: "Chuck Currie" <reedguy@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Alto Clarinet Questions
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 22:54:40 -0400

Hi, folks

I'm a saxophonist and clarinetist who specialized in alto clarinet for
several years with the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble. To play an alto
clarinet with the mouthpiece inserted similar to an alto saxophone, one
would have to hold the instrument out about a 45 degree angle. The results
would tend to be flabby and unfocussed. The alto clarinet enters the mouth
exactly the same as a clarinet, with the same embouchure (except larger.)
Good results come from exactly the same things that make one a good
clarinetist, including a fine instrument, good mouthpiece and good reeds
(although slightly softer reeds than soprano clarinet are often chosen by
alto clarinetists who double.)

I couldn't agree more with the adjectives regarding the sound of a well
played (well made, well maintained) alto clarinet.

Chuck Currie
Sax Noir Studio
www.saxnoir.com
reedguy@-----.net
604 254-9625
604 970-2694
2105 E 3rd Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V5N 1H9

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Roberts [mailto:timr@-----.com]
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 10:53 AM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: Re: [kl] Alto Clarinet Questions

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 20:51:07 -0400, "Patricia A. Smith"
<arlyss1@-----.net> wrote:

>Tim Roberts wrote:
>
>
>>However, when he played it, I thought I would melt. Glorious, full,
>>smooth, woody; adjectives are inadequate. I was actually jealous,
>>because my own failed attempts at coaxing sound out of an old (and
>>abused) Bundy were quite painful.
>>
>Tim,
>
>You mention that this gentleman also was an experienced alto sax
>player. Do you suppose that a good part of his achievement of a "full,
>smooth, woody" tone may have had to do with his embochure, and the angle
>at which the mouthpiece/reed combo was placed in his mouth?
>
>

That's an excellent question, and I wish I knew the answer. I will ask
him about his equipment, if I can word that without being slapped. As I
recall, he held the alto clarinet off to the side, similar to a tenor
sax player.

This gentleman started with our band on Bb clarinet. His hearing loss
is such that it didn't work out very well, so he went back to alto sax.
For some reason, he is able to blend better with the sax section.

He has quite a lot of big band experience, and partly as a result of
that, he has a VERY deep and dramatic vibrato. That can be annoying in
many concert band situations, but there are times... Last year we did
the excellent (and, unfortunately, POP) Robert W. Smith arrangement of
Georgia On My Mind for band with alto sax solo, and this gentleman
nailed it. He had exactly the right feel. I got so involved, I almost
forgot to play my own part.

--
- Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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