Klarinet Archive - Posting 000150.txt from 2005/11

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Contra Alto Clarinet Recommendations Wanted
Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:19:18 -0500

The Selmer USA, aka Bundy, is patterned after the rosewood, French
Selmer contra alto. While not as refined, and maybe needing some tone
hole de-burring and phrazing, it is a true bargain....maybe the
biggest bang for the buck of any low reed harmony instrument. The
keywork is NOT ergonomically comfortable. I really feels like crap
under the fingers, but it plays extraordinarily well. Some material
can be cut, ground, buffed from the tips of the r.h. C/F and G#/D#
(top terrace for the right hand baby finger) to make moving around
down there easier, and there are some other key tweaks that can be
done if one wants, but it is very playable inspite of its dumb finger
feel. Mr. Marvin Roth played book five of Chorus LIne on Broadway for
fifteen years using a Bundy contra-alto. If it's a good enough horn
to be in the pit with some of the best doublers and pit musicians in
the world, then it is probably good enough to be the contra-alto
clarinet in a community college band.

Richard Bush

On Nov 9, 2005, at 10:46 AM, Gary Van Cott wrote:

> I play in a community college band (much more community than
> college). The clarinet section has been stronger than usual this
> semester and it occurred to me that we could use a contra alto
> clarinet. I am presuming that if you only had one, a contra alto
> would be better than a contra bass, because it would be cheaper,
> somewhat easier to maintain, and I believe there are more parts for
> it.
>
> I suggested the contra alto to the director after the rehearsal and
> he thought briefly and said, yes, it was a good idea, and they are
> working on budget right now.
>
> So I need to get him some recommendations for instruments. I
> looked at the Woodwind and Brasswind website (for reference) and
> they have the expensive Buffet and Selmer Paris instruments listed
> for about $12,000 and Vito and Selmer USA for about $2,000. I am
> not sure the college would want to spend $12,000. Are there any
> other options?
>
> For those of you who have had experience with these instruments,
> which do you recommend?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gary
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> + Gary Van Cott - Van Cott Information Services, Inc.
> + Woodwind and Brass: Books, Music, CDs and More
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