 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2008-01-14 02:37
On saxophone, the upper limit of the natural range is defined as high F above the staff, and anything above it is considered altissimo. (Although I've read that Adolphe Sax always intended for the sax to go higher than F, so the altissimo shouldn't be considered "extra".)
Just where does the "natural" range of the clarinet end and the altissimo begin?
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Author: Lann
Date: 2008-01-14 02:40
I draw the line at high C.
I have no formal training, and little credible musical education to speak of, and it's based purely on the fact that the fingerings get wonky after high C.
But, that's where I draw the line.
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Author: davidsampson
Date: 2008-01-14 03:11
I pretty much agree, though a case could be made that it begins at high G. The only reason I say this is that above F# you pretty much have to alter your embouchre a bit to get the notes out. In the overwhelming majority of cases, C is the top of the clarion, unless you use the alternate fingerings in which you can get up to I think an F using the clarion register. Alternatively, you can play C, B and perhaps Bb as altissimo notes using other alternate fingerings.
I would posit that the best definition for clarion is any note played in the 3rd harmonic. Altissimo would be anything in the 5th or above. As a general rule, high C.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-01-14 03:14
Lann is exactly correct, and there is no gray in the discussion.
The notes above clarion (high) C belong to a completely different "partial" of the instrument.
The first partial includes everything that does not require the register key. The chalumea range.
The second includes everything up to high C. The clarion range.
The third starts with every note that requires two holes to be vented (generally speaking). Depending on how high you can play you discover that the Altissimo also has different partials within it, but all are included in the Altissimo designation.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-01-14 03:20
David does make an interesting point--
There is an overlap if you choose to use "false" fingerings...the throat tones which will give you the lower altissimo notes from the clarion range.
These notes/fingerings are poor choices as far as pitch and quality are concerned on soprano clarinets, but are quite good on some bass clarinets.
David's point connects to an allusion of mine above...Altissimo G (&G#, A, A#) is on a different partial that C#-F#. For that matter (depending on fingering) altissimo B, C, and C# are another partial.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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