 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-06-17 01:10
I wonder how many people who currently visit the BB (or live here) have and play (ever) an Ab Clarinet. And do you have any comments about it?
Thanks and regards,
John
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-06-17 02:08
I've tried to play one, but I simply can't get my large fingers on to the holes without touching the keys in between so fortunately I won't have to try again.
jez
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-06-17 02:11
Played one in Italy in the late 1960s, it was awful!
A guy played one like it in a local band, and he sounded OK, so maybe it was me?
The one I played was made in Italy, and was made of wood, had a very small, close mouthpiece, hard reed, and tiny ligature. As I remember, it didn't have the top "trill" keys or the left hand F/C key. Maybe this one was made for a small child to learn on? The pitch was very out, and the sound quite shrill. All in all, bad news, so no purchase at that time.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-06-17 02:12
So Jez,
Does that mean you're going to send me the itsy-bitsy curiousity to try? 
Katrina
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-06-17 02:17
Of course, if I still had it, it would be winging your way as we type, but sadly it was only borrowed.
![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-06-17 02:26
My favorite quote about the Ab sopranino clarinet:
"...There is also an Ab instrument pitched another fourth higher (than the Eb clarinet), but it was never used much in the United States. Its main use has been in European army bands. It is often referred to as the 'mechanical pig squeal' .... "
---page 21 The Clarinet and Clarinet Playing Robert Willaman
...GBK
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-06-17 02:45
LOL @ GBK - you're a source of constant amusement (to me at least).
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-06-17 02:46
OOOOOOOHHHHH!!!! a "mechanical pig squeal"!!!! I wanna make that sound too!!! LOL!!!
Too bad you don't _own_ one, jez, I could probably hear it from here in the middle of the US, with you all the way across the pond, eh?
And now I wanna try Balkan music on one too...
Katrina
Post Edited (2003-06-17 02:47)
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Author: SaRaH18
Date: 2003-06-22 06:37
I have never heard of an Ab Clarinet, but I know of an A Clarinet, and a Bb Clarinet. Are you referring to the A Clarinet?
Sarah
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Author: DezzaG
Date: 2003-06-22 11:57
no is an Aflat clarinet, higher than an Eflat, so it is very tiny, nearly an octave up from A clarinet
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2003-06-22 12:18
I tried a LeBlanc last fall. What amazed me was that it had more keys than normally. It had double tone holes for the f/c key and an extra side key for RH1 H/F# (when open), like a Würlitzer reform böhm. I wasn't very successful in the beginning and had no time to improve but Iwould like to try again.
Alphie
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Author: William
Date: 2003-06-22 16:19
In the Ab Piccolo posting, I reported that I had played one in college (1960's)--an "unremebered" brand, Boehm system model. It was intended to be a novelty performance and intonation was not a high priority. It, nevertheless, left a lasting impression on me as being a fun--and somewhat easy--little clarinet to play. I am hoping that my old university will one day put it on the auction block when they sell their other out-dated and worn out instruments--I'll be in the front row.
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-06-23 00:04
Were you referring to the piccolo Ab clarinet or a rather obscure Ab clarinet a semitone lower than our beloved A clarinet?
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-06-23 01:19
diz: My questions were of the Ab Clarinet which is pitched a fourth above the Eb Clarinet. The teeny Ab thing that Rendall calls an "Octave" Clarinet (as I recall, he uses the term "Sopranino" only for Clarinets no smaller than the F Clarinet, which is one step above our friend the eefer). And I have noticed that many call it a "piccolo" Clarinet as you did.
You wrote of an Ab Clarinet pitched just below the A Clarinet. Did you have in mind the Ab Clarinette d'amour, or is there a different one I don't know about?
Regards,
John
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-06-23 01:41
A-flat Clarinette d'amour - never heard of it! - sounds intriguing
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Author: dfh
Date: 2003-06-23 02:48
The University of Illinois Band dept. owns one of those little things. Their (at one time) rather large clarinet choir used it....it's really "cute"!
dfh
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Author: SJ
Date: 2003-06-24 06:47
Amazingly I have two Ab piccolo clarinets. The first one I bought in Milan almost thirty years ago and it's terrible! Bad scale and awkward finger spacing but it was cute and the price was right. The second is a Leblanc which plays in tune and is a legitamte quality instrumet.I used these in a comedy-music show in Las Vegas (Mickey Finn) anyone remember?
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-06-25 00:02
diz: Yes, they do. And sorry, SJ, I never saw the show. I would hav enjoyed that!
Regards,
John
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-06-25 00:27
thanks John ... Leblanc's website isn't particuarly intuitive ... after searching through the harmony clarinets I found the little nipper series number 1176AbS
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-06-25 03:13
could be more dangerous than an assualt rifle!
David Dow
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-06-25 05:23
That's the one, diz. It's a Leon Leblanc (LL) design.
And David, careful what you say... otherwise the Feds in the US might declare it illegal.
Regards,
John
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-06-25 06:06
One would imagine, if you were to play fortissimo in the highest register, that it would be a weapon of mass destruction!
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Author: clarinetqween
Date: 2003-06-25 15:12
Hey we have one of those here at the National Music Museum in the wonderful town of Vermillion, SD. Actually we have one on display and a few in storage I think. The one that I can think of off of the top of my head was a 10 keyed clarinet before 1820. Hmm I should look into the others if there are any.... This place is so great it is like Disneyland for musical instruments!
~ClarinetQween
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Author: clarinetqween
Date: 2003-06-27 19:17
I was looking around here earlier, and we have G Clarinet here!! That is even smaller than the Ab clarinet! WOW I am amazed, it is on display here though, so it remains a mystery on how high and squeaky it actually is!
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Author: William
Date: 2003-06-27 22:52
Wouldn't a G clarinet be longer than an Ab "piccolo" clarinet??
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Author: Henry
Date: 2003-06-28 02:21
Unless it is tuned a major seventh HIGHER than the Ab "piccolo" clarinet, which would make it a "piccolino" (???) clarinet. It would probably fit in your shirt pocket!
Henry
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