 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Allison
Date: 2017-05-07 04:44
For those who love that obscure beast - the alto clarinet - Steve Fox built an alto for me a couple of years ago (if you click on his sponsor link at the top of this page and look at the artist clarinets you will find pictures of the beautiful instrument that he made for me). Last week the wind symphony that we both play in, premiered a new concerto for alto clarinet and wind symphony with Stephen as the soloist playing the instrument that he built for me. The piece is called Seven Deadly Sins, composed by Michael Purves-Smith and it is not a piece for the faint of heart for either the soloist or the ensemble (in fact Michael has noted it as "advanced" for both). Steve did a fabulous job in last weeks performance and we will be performing it again tommorrow (May 7th) afternoon. It has been such an exciting process, seeing this instrument and piece come to life, one that I will always be grateful to have been a part of. Can't wait to get my alto back so I can play it again!
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2017-05-07 04:52
Thanks for posting and for the link to the pictures.
So an Alto Clarinet revival in the offing?
Any likelihood of an audio sample from a performance being posted ?
And if you are curious - yes I fulfill the nerd qualification' and own a beast.
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Author: Allison
Date: 2017-05-07 05:42
Well the alto can be a truly beautiful instrument. Some nice articles have been published recently about the instrument and the piece and I hope it may Help bring it out of the woodwork and allow it to be heard more. And yes the word nerd came up during the introduction ... So I waved ... And they laughed and it was all good! 
Nice to meet another alto fan!
Post Edited (2017-05-07 05:45)
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2017-05-08 06:16
Allison,
This sounds great! How do I get a copy?
I have a Buffet Prestige alto and that horn really SINGS too. People are amazed when they hear it. Very in tune and a big full sound. I did the Dahl Sinfonietta cadenza on it.
Eefer guy
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Author: Allison
Date: 2017-05-14 01:22
Ebclarinet1, that sounds like a really nice Alto indeed! If you would like more info about the piece, here is a link to the Wellington Wind Symphony website, where there are links to several articles about the piece.
The composer, Michael Purves-Smith can be contacted by email: spurvessmith@rogers.com or by calling him at 519-669-1327.
Who knows... maybe you will get premiere the piece in the USA....
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Author: Allison
Date: 2017-05-14 01:26
And to Carolyn Smale, yes a recording of the concert was made, but I don't know when or how it will be available. I will post on the Clarinet BBoard if I find out anything. Wellington Wind Symphony does have a YouTube channel but it has been a while since anything has been posted, but I am hoping.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2017-05-14 05:56
Allison,
I can't get the email to work so I may have to do a phone call.
Hope they do post to uTube as a new alto concerto piece is such a rare beast it deserves publicity, especially with an artist like Steve playing the part.
Would certainly like to hear the Fox and Buffet altos side by side. All my clarinetists friends have been impressed by my Buffet as their design fixes many of the inherent problems of the instrument and the intonation is spot on, at least with my horn.
Eefer guy
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Author: Allison
Date: 2017-05-14 18:57
I see the problem. Try s.purvessmith@rogers.com and that should work. My apologies!
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