Klarinet Archive - Posting 000088.txt from 2010/06

From: DGross1226@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Alto Clarinet in Concert Band?
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:26:54 -0400

In a message dated 6/5/2010 3:36:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
klarinet-request@-----.com writes:

> The problem is primarily one of ignorance. A good alto clarinet in good
> adjustment with good mthpc and reed is a marvelous instrument. The Vito
> plastics for years have been very fine inexpensive horns.
>

To put my observations in context, I'm primarily a "bottom feeder" playing
contrabass/contra alto clarinet with the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir, the
Claremont (CA) Winds, and the Orange County Wind Symphony. I also play A, Bb &
C (yes, Dan, I own and play a C clarinet) with the Topanga (CA) Symphony.
A few years ago when our alto clarinet/basset horn player in the Los Angeles
Clarinet Choir had to leave because of his day job (like pay the bills),
there was a HUGE harmonic hole left in the ensemble. In my not so humble
opinion, the alto clarinet voice is perhaps the most important voice in a
clarinet choir tying the soprano with the bass voices. Composers who write for the
medium also totally understand the alto clarinet and write absolutely
"juicy" counter melodies and harmonies for the instrument.

Because I felt that strongly about the alto clarinet, I actually have
bought two instruments over the next year -- a 60s vintage Noblet and a 70s
vintage VITO -- both for reasonable prices on eBay. Fortunately, we have a
wealth of superb repair folks in Los Angeles and Orange County and it didn't take
a whole lot of effort and $$ to bring them up to "professional" (whatever
the heck that means) standards.

Bottom line: I sold the Noblet to the fellow who now plays alto clarinet
with the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir and "loaned" the VITO to another soprano
clarinetist who also plays "second" alto clarinet part (yes...modern
composers do write divisi alto clarinet parts) on many of our works.

If you'd like to hear the alto clarinet played very well, do come hear us
in Austin on Sunday morning, July 25, at ClarinetFest 2010.

Don Gross

P.s. Hindemith and Persichetti also wrote amazing parts for the alto
clarinet as did De Meij who wrote a wonderful solo for alto clarinet in his
Symphony No. 1, the "Lord of the Rings," for concert band.
_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com