 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-07-20 03:31
Hallowe'en's come around early this year.
- Bass clarinet is generally used to convey a hidden menace or impending danger.
- Theremin (or an Ondes Martenot) is often used to convey ghosts and spirits.
I'm undecided if a hidden danger or a manifest spirit is spooOOOookier. But as far as woodwinds go, bass clarinet has it in the bag for spoooOOookiest instrument.
Who first decided these instruments were best suited for such dramatic, spoooOOoooky effect in film soundtracks? And have they been bettered?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2025-07-20 06:35
I've always been a fan of the old black and white Perry Mason shows. The bass clarinet parts were always great.
More recently, I watched the old Ironside TV show and couldn't believe some of the bass clarinet parts Quincy Jones used. Really prominent usage, and pretty cool stuff.
Of course, there's always the Alfred Hitchcock black and white series too.
For me - the murder/mystery genre goes hand's down to bass clarinet.
For ghost stories and such - the theremin (or even the saw).
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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Author: RefacerMan
Date: 2025-07-20 17:52
"The bass clarinet just started to play. Don't go into the dark house. It won't end well!!"
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Author: davidjsc
Date: 2025-07-25 04:15
Theremin has more of an alien sci-fi spooky sound, but bass clarinet works better in film noire stuff or crime dramas. While the theremin is more unearthly, its sounds isn't as expansive as a bass clarinet.
Meanwhile... contrabass sarrusophone works great in a spooky Western setting.
@Fuzzy - you are so right about Perry Mason
DSC
~~ Alto Clarinet; Bass Clarinet; B-flat and C Boehm Clarinets; Albert C Clarinet; Oboe ~~
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2025-07-26 20:32
Chris, I was just about to mention the Ondes Martenot when I saw your post. It has amazing capability in the hands of a good player.
https://www.google.com/search?q=ondre+martinot&oq=ondre+martinot&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRiPAjIHCAYQIRiPAtIBCjE1MTQ0ajBqMTWoAgiwAgHxBU9UlC3H2ALF8QVPVJQtx9gCxQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:56ec4586,vid:yidV0HeVyCg,st:0
Tony F.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2025-07-26 23:11
Tony F:
Thanks for the share. I ended up at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yidV0HeVyCg which shows how it all works.
I had never heard of the thing before - but I'm positive that I've heard it used on various movies/shows. Pretty cool.
The first few seconds of the clip above, I found myself thinking - "Not much different than a saw" - but as she continued, it became obvious how unique the instrument is!
Thanks again - that was a fun departure.
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2025-08-05 21:56
On the old Gunsmoke TV show, the contrabass clarinet always forshadowed DANGER for the marshall. It does sound ominous!
Eefer guy
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2025-08-06 02:31
Ebclarinet1,
As an aside...the funniest part about Gunsmoke (at least the early ones) is that during part of the show's intro, you can hear the guitar play a slow outline of "Beat It."
"You better run, you better do what you can" line.
Cheers,
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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