 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2003-12-24 19:40
My band director mentioned
that he wishes we had a Contra Clarinet in the group.
I don't know if a Contra Alto (Eb?) or a Contra Bass (Bb?)
is more in need. I've never thought about playing anything
lower than my Alto clarinet, but I might consider it
if I thought it would be useful. Among the Low Clarinet
players here, which would you suggest I look at?
Thanks for your help.
Michael
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-12-24 20:08
Michael Kincaid wrote:
> My band director mentioned
> that he wishes we had a Contra Clarinet in the group...
> which would you suggest I look at?
A bank loan, unless he is buying ...GBK
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-24 20:16
Aha! I finally figured out the secret to your smileys! HAHAHA! Everyone get ready for some serious html coding in the posts to come!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-12-24 20:32
Actually I'd much rather you didn't link offsite very often. It will cause the pages to be loaded significantly slower if that site ever goes off-line.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2003-12-24 20:49
If he is not paying, fuggedaboudit.
If he is paying, then the next issue is size. A clarinet quintet in the area uses contra-alto to good effect. Lugging the thing around is definitely a problem.
OK first off - I inherited my instrument. The keywork on my Buffet Pro contra-alto is not good enough that taking it apart and putting it together does not require a lot of care and caution. My father, after knocking it out of adjustment lots of times, had a road case built for it so that the instrument could be transported while assembled. Think of a coffin. The darned thing is a real chore to get in my Dodge Stratus with the rear seat down, and is even challenging getting into our minivan. This is a straight instrument. The all-metal "paperclip" instruments are going to be easier to lug around. Find another school that has one and bring a tape measure.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2003-12-25 03:56
The Bundy plastic contra alto is quite a good instrument for not much money, especially with a good mouthpiece. I've enjoyed playing it in clarinet sextets but have found that I really don't want to play it in a band where I could be playing the soprano clarinet. The low brass can cover it up in a band.
Stokowsky was said to have used the contra alto clarinet in the Philadelphia orchestra to help the low note instruments. By the way, he once wrote out a bass clarinet part to the Unfinished Symphony and the player was so angry he wouldn't play a note.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2003-12-25 04:24
Okay, well so far this thread has given me a good laugh!
I especially liked the "think of a coffin" comment from Ralph
and the "bank loan" suggestion from GBK.
I'm thinking I'll just stick with playing my alto and soprano!
Merry Christmas.
Michael
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Author: Don Gross
Date: 2003-12-25 11:20
Michael Kincaid wrote:
> Among the Low Clarinet players here, which would you suggest I look at?
Michael,
I second the recommendation to buy a Selmer USA/Bundy contra alto. They are magnificent instruments and can regularly be found on eBay for under $1,000. Most modern wind music composers write both contrabass and contra alto clarinet parts. Unfortunately, many contra alto parts simply double the bass clarinet part. However, you can always play the bari sax part or read bass clef parts as treble clef and add three sharps.
I also have a low C paperclip LeBlanc contrabass clarinet which is pretty much the standard instrument because you can play them while seated on a normal chair -- not a stool. However, now we're talking SERIOUS money. The least expensive one I've seen in a while was more than $3,500 from reputable instrument dealers -- if you can find one. I use my contrabass clarinet about 90% of the time and the contra alto 10%.
But...you should definitely NOT have to buy the instrument yourself. These instruments should be purchased by your school the same way that the bass drum player isn't required to buy his or her own instrument.
Good Luck!
Playing contraclarinets is a real thrill!
Don Gross
Bass/Contrabass Clarinet: Claremont Symphonic Winds, Cal State Los Angeles Wind Ensemble, Caltech/Occidental Concert Band
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2003-12-25 14:57
Don:
> Playing contraclarinets is a real thrill!
Yes, indeed, it is a big hoot. The sound gives everyone a smile. I have been playing mine with a Bulgarian group and it has been real fun. A low e-flat contra-alto has 4 more half steps below the bassoon. But, dancing with it is another story.
Regards
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Author: CPW
Date: 2003-12-25 15:29
RK enscribed in cunieform: "The sound gives everyone a smile."
Shall I think "whoopee cushion" ?
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2003-12-25 17:42
Don,
Thanks for the input. It sounds like the
contrabass clarinet would be the more useful
of the two low clarinets; Finding one and paying
for one is another issue! Band is my hobby and I'd
be paying for it myself. I'm in no hurry so I can look
around and see what's out there. I appreciate
everyone's insight.
Thank you Mark for making this site such a great place!
Michael
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Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2003-12-27 15:22
How strong are you? Lugging around that case will make one arm longer than the other. Contra-alto is an easy transposition for any part in bass clef, especially if you don't have a bassoonist in your band. Your band director can teach you how to do it. And if he/she doesn't know how they should be selling insurance instead.
Contra-bass of course can play bass clarinet parts. I am not an expert, but how many band parts are written these days for these instruments?
How about switching from alto clarinet to bass clarinet? There aren't a lot of great alto clarinet parts except perhaps Grainger's "Lost Lady Found" from Lincolnshire Posy.
Good luck in whatever you choose. Did you start on Bb clarinet and switch to alto somewhere along the way? And do you get teased? And by all means don't buy one of these instruments. I assume your school has them in stock. That is too much of an investment to ask a teenager to make.
Jean
For more info there is a great group of players that are very willing to help you out on a contra site. You can find them at www.contrabass.com Pull up the site and you will find out how to sign up to get postings from them.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2003-12-27 21:30
Clarinetmama,
Thanks for your interest. I'm 44 (so the teen years
are far behind me now!) and didn't start playing
again until 4 years ago. I have a beautiful Bb instrument and
enjoy playing 3rd parts but I have always wanted to play
alto clarinet so I bought a Buffet Prestige a couple of years
ago so now I move between 3rd and alto. The alto part of
Lord of the Rings is really fun to play and even has a small
solo in one section. I've never had a desire to play bass clarinet
for some reason. I'll check out the contrabass website you suggested.
And yes, my trumpet/guitar playing son teases me all the time about
playing alto clarinet!
Michael
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Author: jim S.
Date: 2004-01-01 03:13
For a truly superb CD of Ravel and Debussy arrangements for clarinet sextet
(including everthing from Ab to the big bertha Selmer Bb contrabass in the various selections) see "The Clarinet Section" recording for the Clarinet Classics label. CD CC0036. Their web site address is: http://www.clarinetclassics.com
As a Bb contra paperclip player I have to admit that I believe I like the sound of the Selmer Eb contra-alto better than the Selmer Bb contrabass on this CD.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-01-02 18:22
clarinetmama -
You've missed the obvious solution. Carry an Eb contra case in one hand and a BBb contra case in the other. that way, you stretch both arms. Judicious alternation keeps the lengths the same. Believe it or not, I did that in the West Point Band, back when I was young and foolish. (I'm no longer young ;-).)
Jim -
The Clarient Classics CD is called Le Jardin Féerique -- see http://www.clarinetclassics.com/cc0036.htm
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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