Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2015-03-17 22:43
I hardly ever play eefer, the last couple of times involved the few bars of Eb clarinet in the 3rd clarinet book of Mahler's 1st (which is mainly A, C, and bass clarinets); but now I have a real challenge on my hands, the Shostakovich 5th. Seems like half the piece is altissimo F#s, and I'm in physical pain by the end of the rehearsal (not to mention the other players around me who are probably in severe auditory pain from listening to me, but are too considerate to say so).
I did double on Eb in a very good local concert band about ten years ago, and really enjoyed that -- sort of floating along the top of the Bb clarinet lines, adding a bit of projection without being strident or noticeable as a separate voice.
My instrument is an older wood one only marked "Czechoslovakia" so my guess is that it's a Kohlert from maybe the 1930s or 40s (pre-1947 anyway), or I suppose it could be a post-1947 Amati but who knows. Came without a barrel so I dug up a "Carl Fischer" 41mm barrel somewhere, not sure it's a very good match to the instrument but it's all I've got until the Robert Scott barrel (made from Delrin) I ordered from Muncy Winds arrives.
Along the lines of one of the comments from TomS, I'm having to concoct all sorts of fingering variations in the altissimo to come close to playing in tune, not enjoying that aspect! Hoping that with the new barrel and lots of practice I can start playing in tune up there one of these days.......
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The Clarinet BBoard
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