Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-11-10 14:47
L-R -
Every contra I've seen or played has the automatic 3-key system you describe -- separate vents for throat Bb, low clarion and high clarion. It's possible that some very old ones have 2 or 3 separate keys, like the old alto and bass clarinets. The twin vents for the clarion register are necessary on large instruments. If you try a manual-key bass, you'll find that the instrument will barely play at all if you use the wrong key.
It's possible, at least on bass clarinet, to make a compromise arrangement, with a single register vent. Leblanc made even its top of the line basses that way through the 1950s, and some entry level student basses are still made that way. However, it's definitely a compromise acoustically, and also in tone and playing qualities. I haven't actually seen the old Linton metal contra that keeps appearing on eBay. It may have a manual system or a single vent.
The problem with automatic systems is that they're complex and involve strong springs overpowering weak springs. This makes them less reliable, as well as requiring long, easily bent rods. Ideally, everyone would get used to manual double register keys. Oboists have no problem with this, after all.
Dave -
The Leblanc and Vito contras do indeed have the 3-vent system.
It's very interesting to learn about the modifications to the Selmer BBb contra. I've always thought that a third vent would be useful, particularly on the BBb instrument, and two extra ones would make the clarion very playable.
The bigger the instrument, the more critical it is to match the register vent size and location to the note being played. Terje Lerstad, a bass and contrabass specialist, has played the Leblanc EEb octo-contra-alto and BBBb octo-contrabass instruments. He wrote (on the Contrabass board, I think) that the clarion register was unplayable on either of them.
Was one of the extra vents on the British player's contra a substitute for the pinhole vent for the altissimo that's on bass clarinets? How were the extra vents operated? I can't imagine having 3 or 4 keys for the left thumb.
I think a sax-style palm key for the altissimo vent would work. I corresponded with Steve Fox about putting something like that on my Selmer rosewood Eb, or perhaps having it controlled by a split-plateau, English horn style arrangement for the left index finger. In the end, we decided it would take too much experimentation to find the vent location, and Steve doesn't like to fabricate keys.
Ken Shaw
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The Clarinet BBoard
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