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Ab Trill Discrepancy

Author: Qhartb
Date: 2000-12-15 12:43

Is the proper Ab-Bb throat tone trill the top or 2nd to top side key. On my instrument the top key does Ab-Bb and the 2nd to top Ab-Bbb. This is what says should happen according to www.wfg.sneezy.org.
But when we were going over the trills in sectional, the instruments of everyone else in my section use the 2nd key. I tried it on an instrument I'm borrowing from the school, and it uses the 2nd key, too. Not only that, but our assistant director specializing in clarinet said it was the 2nd key, and confirmed it in a fingering book she has.

So it's my instrument and the sneezy fingering site on top key and my section, my borrowed instrument, 2 directors and and one's fingering book on 2nd to top.

Is there some kind of manufacturing difference between models? Is it on purpose? Historic significance? Why the discrepancy?

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RE: Ab Trill Discrepancy

Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-12-15 15:52

Qhartb -

The most familiar throat Ab/Bb trill is in the first movement of the Mozart Quintet, at the beginning of the development section.

Stadler's instrument had no throat Ab key. You played the Ab using just the register key and trilled with the A key.

On the modern Boehm instrument, the best trill -- the only one I've every found that is even close to being in tune -- is to play the Ab and trill with the 3 lowest side trill keys. You have to prepare your hand position in advance, but it's possible with practice.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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