 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-01-24 14:13
I have often seen in books that there is such a beast as the Sopranino Ab clarinet, almost an octave higher than the standard Bb. But until now I had never seen one. There is one for auction on Ebay at the moment. You might like to look at it, because it is amazingly tiny!
If anybody here buys it, be sure to let us know how you get on with it.
Go to Ebay at <a href="http://www.ebay.com/">www.ebay.com</a>
Click on Search
Click on "By Item Number"
Enter the following item number: 1405722623
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2001-01-24 14:25
It may seem "ugly" to you, but speaking from personal experiance as an Ab clarinet soloist in front of thousands of high school students (in college with our touring Concert Band), it is a fun instrument to play. I wish I could afford to bid on the LeBlanc on EBay, but until I get a few more gigs..........................(oh well)!!! Good clarineting to whomever is the highest bidder.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-01-24 15:12
I have enough trouble keeping my fingers from covering more than one hole on an eefer! How the heck can any human with normal-sized hands play something as tiny as the aafer?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mw
Date: 2001-01-24 16:04
The clarinet is being sold by a northwestern U.S. Dealer. His eBay account is under IJU99. Joh n Butler knows Ira well I think, much better than I. However, Ira is a very reputable dealer. This is the 2nd "go-round" on the Ab Sopranino. HTH. mw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: J. Butler
Date: 2001-01-24 16:54
Yes, I do know Ira Uhrig through business dealings. He is located in Bellingham WA. He has sent me older Selmer clarinets to overhaul for his business and once I did a Moennig Bros. metal bass clarinet for him... rather nice instrument with a double register mechanism. He has also bought some instruments from me..saxes and clarinets. He is a good dealer and knowledgable about his products.
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-01-24 18:23
I've played Eb many times and had little trouble. However, I've tried I think 4 Ab instruments over the years, and even though my fingers are not particularly wide, I could never get them on it. I've never tried a Leblanc, but the problem is serious enough that I'd want a money back guarantee before I bid on it.
I've also played in many bands (including West Point), but have seen only one piece that had an Ab part, and that was an Italian piece that had it doubling the Eb. I hear there are a few actual players in Italy, and I have a record of an Italian band that has something that is squealy enough (and out of tune enough) to make me think it may be an Ab.
Baines discusses the instrument and says that the fingering problem is so severe that most instruments are made with the "simple" ("Albert") fingering system, which has fewer keys to get in the way. With no keys at all (or perhaps going back to the Denner minimum of 3, or the Mozart-era minimum of 5), an Ab should be manageable. There are miniature ("garklein")recorders pitched in high C that are (barely) playable.
There is a high G clarinet that's played in some German and Austrian cafe bands, and the records I have of them are quite good, so the Ab would seem at least possible to play. The Leblanc Eb I played several years ago, however, was pretty out of tune.
For the few times you might get to play it, it's probably not worth the money. Get a contra instead.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-01-24 18:30
Along the I-5 north of Bellingham there used to be a field where the kids would sneak in and gather "Magic Mushrooms" before the elves got them (and police caught them). Can't you just imagine a chorus of little elves playing "Along the Yellow Brick Road"?? Especially after a couple of Magic Mushrooms? At 6'2 and 200lbs I don't have a hope of playing anything that small--had to settle for an alto cause I can't afford a bass.
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-01-24 21:32
Bob -
Wait till you try my 6' tall great-bass recorder, in C, and 7.5' contrabass in F. I'm saving my pennies for a 9' subcontra in CC. What a contraption.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2001-01-25 13:30
I laughed out loud when I saw the eBay picture of this horn! What a hoot. Or, should I say, what a squeaker?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-01-25 14:23
For comparison, have a look at this largest member of the recorder family. It is at the very bottom of the page. Either that is a huge recorder or that woman is only three inches high.
<a href="http://www.angelfire.com/fl/flautonuovo/Edeb01.html">Recorder Page</a>
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: lynn
Date: 2001-01-25 17:37
>>RE: Sopranino Ab Clarinet
Author: C. Hogue (208.209.231.---)
Date: 01-25-01 09:30
I laughed out loud when I saw the eBay picture of this horn! What a hoot. Or, should I say, what a squeaker? <<
LOL, yeah, really would you want that in your clarinet choir??!! Eeeeek....
Lynn
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: marie
Date: 2001-01-28 08:21
What would a three meter high recorder sound like?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
