 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: trampoline
Date: 2003-06-24 02:36
What are your thoughts on alto clarinets?
I haven't really had much exposure to them m'self.. We've an abundance of soprano and bass clarinetists in my band - a contrabass and a sopranino, too: almost enough even to overpower our poor lil trumpet section. During inventory today (we've started on the daunting task of trying to get everything organized.. haven't even put a dent into it) I noticed we had a bunch of altos that look like they'd work ok.. mostly bundys, but I'm still sort of surprised not a lot of people - er .. rather nobody - plays one. You'd think the parts oughtta be covered or somethin'..
Eh, they're probably covered elsewhere.. maybe even within the clarinets split between bass and soprano. But gosh.. I hardly hear anything about altos and when they are mentioned it's hardly ever good. What's with this almost stigmatic approach to the alto clari?
Some people say that they hardly ever play in tune - with others or itself - but I'd say that's more a problem of poorly made instruments rather than one inherent of any particular instrument.
- Sam
Post Edited (2003-06-24 02:38)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2003-06-24 03:20
trampoline said:
>Eh, they're probably covered elsewhere.. maybe even within the clarinets split between bass >and soprano.
Most alto clarinet parts are a duplication of either the 2nd alto sax, french horn or 2nd/3rd clarinet part. It rarely has a unique part all to itself. (doesn't one of the Holst suites have an alto clarinet solo?)
Thus, many band directors find it dispensible, especially when trying to balance out the sound and coloration of their ensembles.
Many (most) school alto clarinets are badly out of adjustment. Finding a good mouthpiece reed combination is an absolute necessity and another matter in itself.
My opinion only - Perhaps for short term amusement and interest playing the alto clarinet is an experience worth trying, but looking to the future, I think your time would be better spent learning and developing your high register facility, tone and technique on the bass clarinet ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2003-06-24 03:50
Alto clarinets ... ah the ugly duckling of the family perhaps?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2003-06-24 06:33
Well, Sam, I woke up one morning with the brilliant idea that if I'm gonna be a clarinet player, why not toot 'em all? So, during the past year I took up both bass and alto clarinet, both Bundys and have had no problem playing in tune or being heard with either one. In fact, in our small church group I need to subdue the bass lest it overpower the two or three trumpets - believe it or not. So far, so good.
I prefer the alto for solos and the bass for adding 'support' to the ensemble bass line (yes, I read bass cleff). I suppose in a very large concert/marching band neither instrument would amount to much.
I love the mellow sound of the alto no matter what They say. As a member in good standing in the Old Geezers Club I am, admittedly, quite biased to say the least.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-06-24 14:25
I agree with RonB. I'm also a geezer who is sorry he sold his and is patiently waaiting for e-Bay to provide another.
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-06-24 14:52
Bob A et al, please don't kill me for saying this:
Alto clarinet is the answer to a question nobody is asking.......Its upper register is thin and strained-sounding and is better covered by a soprano clarinet lower register. Its lower register is small and weak and better covered by the mid/upper register of the bass clarinet. It's rarely well-played, and no band director really needs or wants one. Orchestras have never heard of them. Having said that, I own one (a wood Kohlert from the late 1950s) and enjoy playing it, in private or in public (regardless of whether anyone else wants to hear me!).
Bob A, I even got an extra one (Malerne stencil) if you're really hot for an alto clarinet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-06-24 15:36
Very well summarized comments, all "bases" covered by GBK, Ron and Dave, the [hopefully antique] term of "nerd" being not mentioned by diz or Bob. At the moment, I have only 2 altos, my good Selmer-Paris [closer to a Basset Horn than others] and an old Pedler, which has DRKeying [like their old bass cl] ! I take every opportunity I have to play the S, a local conductor [cl'ist] and my Tulsa Com Band conductors [both cl and sax players] both desire it to,"fill out" the choir, but my bass is really more important. Every now and again, there is a phrase for AC only, usually cued on bass/sop cl parts! Its greatest use is in clar choir music to play some transposed viola parts [I believe the viola is the nerd of the strings also, any disagreements?] . It does require a good mp/reed combo to be heard adequately. Just thots, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-06-24 17:44
Dave, et al;
Maybe if I could REALLY play in the clarion register of my Bass I would stop thinking about an alto. As it is--I can't. And I am hoping an Alto will give me more fun with my guitar playing friends for as you know I am too old (substitute-- dumb/lazy) ![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif) to try to learn to transpose.So, Dave , quote me a price off line, me being a Malerne freak, and coming from you I know it will be in top shape.! <bobarney@iowatelecom.net>
Bob A
Post Edited (2003-06-24 17:48)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Oakley
Date: 2003-06-24 20:18
Why is it that the various sizes of clarinet don't fit into a harmonious consort, like the human voice, or recorders, or the members of the violin family? (Although I'll admit that the match in the violin family is only approximate, unless you use the New Violin Octet of instruments, designed so that the basic tone quality of the violin is scaled smoothly through all the tonal positions from piccolo down to contrabass--or lower, I don't have a reference on hand at the moment.)
Why have clarinettists and composers always accepted such weakness at the alto position?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-06-24 20:33
David asked:
"Why have clarinettists and composers always accepted such weakness at the alto position?"
Maybe they have grown to expect little from "third chair" people like me?
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-06-24 20:55
Bob A,
Your email address is bouncing when I send to you off-line, so I have to reply here (sorry Mark, hope this isn't too out of line):
The alto clarinet I've got is "as-received" from eBay, thus unrestored, and I haven't looked at it in half a year. I'll let you know tomorrow if it's playable as-is, but honestly I have no intention of spending time restoring an alto clarinet in the near future --- it takes too long and there's no market for it --- as you know it takes nearly as long to overhaul an alto as it does a bass, and nobody (in his right mind) is going to pay me $600 or more for a fully-renovated non-wood alto clarinet! (My Malerne-stencil is hard rubber, which I failed to mention). So if it's playable in its present condition I'll sell it to you for $50 plus shipping, but if it needs an overhaul --- well, I ain't gonna overhaul it this year, and I doubt you'll want to buy it from me at any price!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2003-06-24 21:02
All of the above are great comments. I own two inexpensive alto clarinets, a first class Leblanc and a Bundy on which I have undercut the toneholes and done some tuning. Both are simply wonderful but I have not found a place to play them. I play first clarinet in a very good band and prefer to play that part. The same is true of my Selmer basset horn which I have not had time to search out playing opportunities. Still, it's fun to take them out are try them once in a while. A duo with guitar sounds like a great group. Good luck.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-06-24 21:26
Forgive me Mark.
Dave, DSL down. Works twice as fast, costs twice as much and offf twice as ofted.
Please ship if playable. Check in mail when you decide.
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-06-24 23:46
I plan to do a little solo Alto Clarinet playing this coming semester - the Alto Clarinet is great because it opens up Alto Sax repertoire to clarinetists who do not wish to play the saxophone.
I'll be borrowing my colege's Alto, don't know what it is or what condition it's in...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2003-06-24 23:54
Match the human voice ... most instruments that are "similar to their human counterparts" (sop alto tenor and bass) have a range that begins (more or less) on low C or a low F (Bb - Eb if you think sax) - more or less.
The clarinet is an odd beast because it doesn't overblow at the octave - I think this might just be part of the difficulty. An oboe playing friend of mine picked up the clarinet once and now plays one quite well (though no where near as brilliantly as her oboe) she reckons the whole fingering scheme and awkwardness over the break is just silly. I do agree with her, somewhat, but that is the nature of the beast we all love.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2003-06-25 04:29
Dave asks a very searching question: "Why have clarinettists and composers always accepted such weakness at the alto position?"
I'd like to offer a guess. Looking from lowest to highest vocal voicings, bass, tenor, alto, soprano. The tenor part, played by the alto clarinet, is the one part least likely to be missed if something needs to be omitted (as in duets and trios). It often doubles the tonic (root) note, most likely already covered by the bass, so it gets the least consideration. Maybe arrangers feel they can do just as well without it and put forth little, if any, effort writing parts for it. Bass, any bass instrument, on the other hand, is very important to any kind of ensemble.
That's also my reason for promoting the Alto clarinet more as a solo instrument, where it can really sing.
Well, it *could* be...
- rn b -
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-06-25 12:16
I got my college's alto out today. It's an Artley. It didn't play bad at all, I quite liked it and I'm definitely going to play something on it this year, maybe Ravel's habanera.
I found it VERY awkward to play, I will definitely need a new neckstrap for it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-06-25 16:42
I also found altos , with a single-hook neckstrap, to be awkward to hold, so I use a double hooker just like on the bass cl. If you have an old-tired strap, you may be able to temove the hook [with 2 pair of pliers] and put it on another, I have done it, it works! You might need an additional, strategicaly-placed ring on the AC, I have used a paper-clip attached [non-interferingly] to a pivot post on the upper joint as the second ring!!! Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: andreak
Date: 2003-06-25 19:33
I used a NeoTech neckstrap for about a year, then I had a floor peg installed as well. Ahhhhh comfort.....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: happyamateur
Date: 2003-06-26 00:18
Ok, I'll stand up as a proud member of the family. I have an alto that I really love, and if you're sitting down I'll tell you that it's a LaRipamonti Linea A that I bought as a factory sample from some nice fellows in the midwest. It took me a while get the intonation (and a few other quirks) down, and it didn't behave at all until I got a Hite mp and tried some Hemke alto sax reeds, but now - wow- what a nice instrument. I don't see any indication that LaRipamonti still makes an alto and I haven't been able to find out ANYTHING about mine. The intonation is quite good, is as expressive as while sounding nothing like a sax, and is a pleasure to play. My partner recently admitted to me that it is her favorite clarinet to listen to! Quite the serenade when played in the dark.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Henry
Date: 2003-06-26 00:44
Or, perhaps even better, with some candle light? Wow!!
Henry
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2003-06-26 03:15
I played my alto clarinet for about six weeks before a tech friend took me aside and explained that it might be a little less distressing to the thumb if I tried a neckstrap. I did, and it was, and I don't tire nearly as easily nowadays 
...I never claimed to be the smartest hick that ever came along.
- rn b -
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-06-27 13:40
Bob,
If you can adequately explain to your dear wife the presence in your house of alto clarinet, you are a far better man than I! I can't even justify having one to my fellow musicians, who should know better.........
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-06-27 21:18
You guys need to talk to her. She thinks four clarinets are three too many!
Bob A
Post addendum:
Dave, it was easier than buying a new horse! Just cabinets in the bathroom. Ha! Ha!
Bob A
Post Edited (2003-06-28 18:47)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 2003-06-29 01:00
My (Buffet) alto clarinet sound great in the clarion register. Very basset horn like in the upper clarion and altissimo.
Gary
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif)
![[hot]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/hot.gif)
.![[yeah]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley17.gif)
