 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: always learning
Date: 2015-03-17 04:21
I heard a contrabass clarinet on a CD by Paul Winter, Prayer for the Wild Things. Dennis Smylie played it on a few cuts. It sounds wonderful to me.
I would like to try to play one. However accessing one is most challenging. My local schools don't have any available, nor do local music stores offer a rental. Dang! (Anyone near Olympia, WA have one willing for me to try?)
*As a soprano and bass clarinetist, what are the similarities/differences/challenges to playing a contrabass clarinet?
* Is anyone familiar with other CD's using the contrabass clarinet? I am *not* looking for overblown avant garde jazz. I prefer the expansive, melodious low, lower and lowest notes.
Thanks in advance, Ken
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-03-17 07:00
I've had the opportunity to try contra a couple of times. It's a very fun instrument.
It definitely requires a much looser embouchure and a whole bunch of air, even compared to bass - the first time I tried it I got pretty lightheaded after just a few minutes of playing. Really fill up on air and don't pinch the reed at all on the lowest notes, otherwise they'll sound strained and they won't get that resonant, reedy, rumbling sound (I'm sure you're familiar with this concept on bass, just take it to the extreme.) The particular one I tried tended to overblow quite easily - although this is partially because I'm a soprano clarinetist - so that was a bit of a challenge. 2nd register tended to be very stuffy especially around G at the top of the staff, similar to some bass clarinets, and regular altissimo fingerings didn't seem to work. There was also only one RH trill key (for Eb/Bb) so you have to flip from thumb to first finger when going from F to F#. Not sure if all contras are like this.
It tends to be a bit awkward to play standing up if you're taller; either find a stool to sit on or get a long peg.
Here's a video of me trying it the 2nd time this past summer (don't mind the people making silly faces in the background - they're some of my school band friends.) You can hear how I was struggling a bit with overblowing at one point.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=300053320174161&l=7759090341489154799
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Author: always learning
Date: 2015-03-17 08:33
Thanks for the fun video Max. Those rumbling notes sound so primitive &, literally moving. Love 'em. Can't wait to try to play a contrabass.
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Author: cearnsh
Date: 2015-03-17 16:26
Contrabass is tremendous fun! Main differences from small clarinets (i.e. bass upwards) are
- the mouthpiece is big, and you need to take more into your mouth than you might expect initially
- it needs a lot of air and relaxed embouchure
- low notes can make your eyes resonate, so it can be tricky to read the music during loud passages (I said it was fun).
Student contras probably won't have a vented LH1 key so conventional altissimo fingerings don't really work, but you should be able to play up to E using throat G, G# & A fingerings plus the speaker key - not that this is the contra's normal register.
Chris
Chris
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Author: LCL
Date: 2015-03-17 17:09
I own a Leblanc Model 340 paperclip contra that I purchased in 1992, used. I had it overhauled several years later and it plays beautifully today. I switched from bass clarinet in my senior year in high school in 1964 with little or no difficulty and can go between those two at will in a community band setting. Ken Shaw, who posts here from time-to-time, is very informed on this subject and he may post about this. He has many posts that you can find by searching.
Best,
LCL
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Author: always learning
Date: 2015-03-17 21:50
Thank for your thoughts & your shared experiences. It sounds (sic) like the contrabass playability is certainly within my reach.
Now the challenge is $$$ as I start to save my nickels, dimes, and most importantly, silver dollars. The paperclip seems the way to go.
Too bad these horns are ridiculously expensive, and used ones are seldom placed on sale.
Any leads on locating a used Leblanc paperclip contrabass clarinet?
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Author: Kel
Date: 2015-03-18 00:24
A contra player I know spends much his rehearsal trying to get that monster back into adjustment. I get the impression the purchase price is just a down payment, with additional, regular payments to a tech.
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Author: always learning
Date: 2015-03-18 00:29
Gulp Kei. I wonder how widespread the required adjustments are with this horn. That would certainly be unacceptable to me.
I assume that some makes/models require less ongoing adjustments than others. Any thoughts on more reliably built contrabass clarinets?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2015-03-18 00:38
I borrow a friend's straight metal Leblanc contrabass to play in a biweekly clarinet choir, it's a sturdy and reliable instrument.
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Author: always learning
Date: 2015-03-18 00:45
Thanks David. That's comforting.
I'm wondering if you've ever played the Paperclip? It seems more manageable to travel with.
Might you or others know how the paperclip's reliability compares to the straight metal Leblanc?
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2015-03-18 02:35
Maybe it would be easier to find a contra-alto. still lots of fun and easier to get around on.
Steve Ocone
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Author: always learning
Date: 2015-03-18 02:47
I'm sure that you're right Steven. But it's those low, very low primeval notes that intrigue me the most.
Does the players body vibrate as sounds are created? I'm ready for some exploration, other than money limitations.
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-03-18 03:02
Yes, I was a little unnerved the first time I played it because you can feel the air column in your throat vibrating on the lowest notes.
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Author: always learning
Date: 2015-03-18 03:06
That's amazing. Certainly ready to experience that. I'm contacting local universities near Olympia, WA to see if they have a contrabass that they're willing to rent. It's not a common instrument, which makes accessibility difficult.
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Author: LCL
Date: 2015-03-18 03:32
The paperclip I have was a school instrument gotten through a school auction. It was in very good condition with only two small dents in the neck crook. I easily removed those and the horn only needed pads in 2000. John Butler in Sugarland, Tx did the overhaul and did a terrific job. The only issue that persisted was that the low C extension was sort of wobbly. So in 2011, I had Morrie Backun permanently solder it in place and add two small braces. The contras that came much later than my 1964 issue had no joint at the low C extension. I have had no other problems with reliability, and this horn in a Tree Shaker to borrow the term used by the Swamp People!
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2015-03-18 07:15
I believe "Quinn the Eskimo" (who goes by that name on the auction site) is in the Seattle area and often has exotic clarinets. You might want to take a jaunt to his place.
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2015-03-19 21:58
We just got the Eppelsheim contra a month ago. It's a superb instrument fully equipped with all keys. It has four speaker holes, three automatic and one manually executed for the highest notes. It's as easy to play as a bass clarinet. It's in fact a new invention that takes the contra to a different level.
http://www.eppelsheim.com/en/instruments/contrabass-clarinet/
Alphie
Post Edited (2015-03-19 22:04)
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Author: always learning
Date: 2015-03-19 22:04
The Eppelsheim contra sure looks beautiful. If you're comfortable sharing, how much does that puppy sell for?
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2015-03-19 22:15
He charges €16000. Waiting list is about 8 month. It was baught to our section by the orchestra because new music is getting more and more demanding for contra by those composers who favor this instrument in their works. We had a LeBlanc paperclip before and the difference is big.
Alphie
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Author: always learning
Date: 2015-03-19 22:26
That's a significant purchase price. Way beyond my means.
I'm certainly happy for you and your orchestra. It must be very satisfying to play such a fine instrument.
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