 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hazedog
Date: 2000-10-04 23:49
Here's a question:
I know that Leblanc made a clarinet called the octocontrabass, three octaves lower than the Bb soprano. What is the sopranino clarinet and what is its range? Is it pitched in Bb and octave above the soprano?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-10-05 00:31
Hazedog wrote:
>
> Is it pitched in Bb and octave
> above the soprano?
Ab - almost an octave above the soprano.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2000-10-05 04:30
Mark's right. Leblanc makes an Ab sopranino. At least they show one in their catalogue.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-10-05 12:16
I've held it and attempted to play it. I have small hands with thick fingers - small hands with thin fingers would be better :^) It looks like a toy.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-10-05 13:54
I've tried a couple of makes of Ab instruments (Leblanc and no-name) and haven't been able to get my fingers on either. (I have large hands but not-too-wide fingers.)
One of the historical books (Baines, I think) says that they are usually made with simple system keywork (presumably with no rings on the top joint and only two on the bottom), since anything more gets in the way. Nevertheless, the ones I tried had standard Boehm system keywork.
There are a couple of recordings of Italian and German bands where there's a squeaky clarinet on top, probably an Ab.
The high G clarinet is reasonably popular in Germany and Austria because of the continued popularity of "Schrammelmusik" (by the Schrammel family of composers and players) -- cafe music for G clarinet, two violins and guitar. There are some wonderful recordings.
At the bottom end, the Leblanc EEEb and BBBb sub-octobass
instruments were made as "concept" instruments, only two or three of each. There are more details on the contrabass site, as well as pictures. I believe an EEEb instrument is kept on display at the Leblanc headquarters in Paris, for anyone to try.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2000-10-05 14:39
FYI--When I was in college, our Concert Band used to do a concert tour of high schools in our state. Most of our concert was "serious" in substance, but one number featured various "fun" soloists and ensembles to showcase various sections and instruments. My "spot" was to play the Clarinet Polka on this tiny university-owned Ab clarinet after the bari sax soloist played Oodles of Noodles. After playing the Bb, this tiny (Boehm system) clarinet felt like a toy, but with a little practice, it played ok. I remember using a cut-down Bb reed on the mp--no Abs available (don't know why I didn't use an Eb???) If any of you get a chance to try an Ab, go for it--they are fun. Wish I owned one to carry in my sports coat pocket. :>)
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-10-05 14:56
The Eb is often referred to as a soprano rather than sopranino. It's "partner" for sharp keys was the D soprano clarinet, which I'm not sure is made anymore.
Leblanc does indeed show an Ab sopranino in their catalog. It is approximately half the length of the standard Bb soprano. It looks small even in comparison to the Eb.
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-10-05 22:48
According to "The Cambridge Companion to the Clarinet", "The octave C, Bb and A, and the sopranino E, have been referred to by several authorities and it is possible that instruments may have been made". An octave C would be four semitones higher than the sopranino Ab.
The Ab sopranino is apparently used in Italian marching bands. It has also been used a few times in orchestras: Verdi's "Stage Band" in La Traviata, Bartok's Scherzo for Piano and Orchestra, Tavener's Celtic Requiem.
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Author: Erin :)
Date: 2000-10-06 01:50
My professor owns an Ab sopranino (made by Leblanc). It is so strange to look at, especially when you look at just the mouthpiece or barrel... The one here is very old, and I have never had a chance to play it, but I am sure that it would be great fun. There are a few parts for it in our clarinet choir music, but we don't use it because the professor says that it is horribly out of tune. As for the size, I think I could do alright with it... I have little hands (sometimes even the right hand E/B pinky key on Bb gives me problems), but I still can't talk him into it!
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Author: Nate Zeien
Date: 2000-10-06 02:51
Dee, Leblanc still makes clarinets in D, along with Ab, Eb, C,, and Bb, just to name a few. Anyone who is intersted in these instruments, or is just curious to see what an Ab looks like can find pictures and info at
http://www.gleblanc.com/gleblanc/lebclcat.html. I myself have never tried playing an Ab. How does the finger spacing compare to an efer? Also, I think that the efer is referred to as a soprano or a sopranino. I prefer sopranino, but thats just my preference. The same goes with Eb contrabass/contra-alto. I have found that they are often used interchangably. -- Nate Zeien
PS - Mark, thanx for the HREF tip. :-)
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Author: javier garcia
Date: 2000-10-10 14:44
L.A. Ripamonti also makes Ab sopranino clarinets, see: www.network.it/ripamonti
they have pictures and midi files to listen it.
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Author: Wes Brown
Date: 2000-10-18 19:28
Hi!
If my memory serves me right, there was a tiny novelty clarinet called the "Red Hot Fountain Pen" that was very small. One would guess that it had very few keys, maybe one or two. I've never seen one.
I was the owner of a spring clarinet I bought from an ad many years ago. It consisted of a mouthpiece like a student alto sax mouthpiece mounted on a tight coil spring about a foot long. The notes were changed by bending the spring to open a crack along it's length. It really wasn't musical but it played glissandos ok. If I could only find it as I haven't seen it for many years.
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