 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Antonio
Date: 2001-05-22 05:33
Hi
I play sax for a while and would like to start in a clarinet.
I don't want the Eb "normal" one's everybody plays in school. I like better the alto or the contra bass, but would like to have more info about it.
Is the fingering the same, like in different saxes?
Is here any webpage I could hear differen sounds?
What about prices?
Really Appreciate every tip!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers
Antonio
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-05-22 07:21
The normal clarinet that everyone plays is a Bb Soprano. The Alto is an Eb below this. These are rare in the United States and almost unheard of everywhere else. Altos are expensive compared with normal clarinets, but you can pick second-hand ones up cheap on ebay. The next step up in size is the Bass which is in Bb an octave below the Soprano. These cost even more. There are also Contra Alto (an octave below the Alto) and Contra Bass (an octave below the Bass) which are huge and will cost a fortune. For completeness, I'll also mention the tiny Eb Soprano which is smaller and higher in pitch than the normal soprano.
The fingering on all the clarinets is the same except for one or two tiny differences. All of them are normally written in the Treble clef as if they were a soprano clarinet. Bass players often have to learn the bass clef as well because they may need to read and play Bassoon music.
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Author: susannah
Date: 2001-05-22 08:40
by the way; although the fingerings through all the clarinets are the same; they are differnet from those of the sax family. Its pretty close however, and not an insurmountable problem...
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-05-22 11:58
www.contrabass.com has more information about contra clarinets.
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Author: Antonio
Date: 2001-05-22 21:56
Thanks everyone
You probable know how hard is to get information and make a decision. This forum has open my eyes to many different iformation.
Why the Eb Alto clarinets are not very popular? Is because of the price or does not fit easy on a band, etc...?
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Author: Leanne
Date: 2001-05-22 22:30
Why would you need an alto clarinet? When push comes to shove, the alto saxes have the same part, and if they don't, the third clarinets, or the bass clarinets have it. It's basically useless.
Alto players, don't hate me, I love alto clarinet, but come on, when was the last time you played a song where the part wasn't covered somewhere else?
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Author: Rob
Date: 2001-05-22 23:08
Leanne wrote:
"Why would you need an alto clarinet? When push comes to shove, the alto saxes have the same part, and if they don't, the third clarinets, or the bass clarinets have it. It's basically useless."
To follow this logic, there would not really be any need for any different musical instruments. Every piece could just be written for piano, for example. A talented pianist or two could cover all the parts rather well. The purpose of composition and orchestration is not simply to have all of the parts covered, as you put it. Each different instrument provides a different tonal color and sound characteristic to a composition. While it is true that alto clarinets are not universally popular, neither are they useless. The lack of material written exclusively for the alto is to me an indication of neglect, not uselessness. BTW I am not now nor have I ever been an alto clarinet player.
Back on the topic though, another consideration may be the basset horn, in F(I think). While not often thought of as a solo instrument with a large repertoire (there is some material, though titles and composers escape me right now), it is known outside the US. Basset horns are rather expensive though, and I do not know if anything other than professional models even exist. Not something to try on a whim unless one has very deep pockets.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2001-05-23 00:15
It would be more sensible to at least learn the basics of clarinet playing on a "normal" Bb clarinet. You can always play the others when you have some of the basics of clarinet playing versus sax playing down.
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-05-23 01:38
I agree with Mark. You generally want some kind of background with the basic Bb soprano before you get into the "color" clarinets
and a word on the alto..
It hurts my feelings how you all shame the alto away like some red headed stepchild with a glass eye. I play just about everything on alto in high school and my military ensemble. Sure, a lot of parts are within different instrumental sections, but the alto adds it's own color to the whole shebang. I've actually had several alto solos. It's a matter of establishing yourself. If there is a part that somehow doesn't get covered, my directors transpose them to Eb and i cover when i can.
I advise you - if you want to give alto a shot, knock yourself out. The number of players keep dwindling; we need a resurgence. It's a wonderful instrument to play, and you're guaranteed to stand out. I'm the first alto player in my school in like 15 years. I just bought an old selmer on ebay for $102.50, and i started playing through the school. Check with your director. You'd be surprised how many instruments schools own that never get played. Cleaning out a cabinet in an old storage room last year i found 2 french horns, about 6 clarinets, 4 flutes, and numerous guitars. You never know what's lurking on the back of that dusty shelf.
Good luck =)
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Author: Antonio
Date: 2001-05-23 03:45
Thanks everyone,
What is fantastic is music is not math, and different opinions just add one to another. As I said before, I play a bit of alto sax, and I have a buffet clarinet b-13 from my sister at home. Actually I tried some times found the sound fantastic but never really play it.
Last week I was in my local music store and saw a guy getting his alto clarinet back from service, he went to a room and play the most beautiful I head. I thought, is that they sound i'm looing for?
Although is interest to know that is not a instrument for solos, not popular, because one of the attractiveness of my alto sax is the power to be a band in itself.
Once again would appreciate your comments and thanks for sharing your knowledge........
Antonio
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Author: Stephen Froehlich
Date: 2001-05-23 14:43
For a "desert island" clarinet, I'd probably choose an alto. The reason is that it can do both the reedy, evil growl of a bass and at the same time have a bell-like clarion of a Bb Soprano.
However, I have to agree that there is rarely a truly unique part written for the alto clarinet. I dare say that truly unique parts are more common for the Contra than the Alto. The reason is that when a composer thinks "Clarinet sound", (s)he writes it for the Bb part. When the composer thinks, "Bass Clarinet Sound", that gets written for the Bass Clarinet part. What makes the alto so cool IMO is that it can do both. Unfortnately, the two things it can do well are able to be done (yea, even somewhat better) by its larger and smaller siblings. I guess its mainly a consequence of the clarinet's unusually large range.
I think the ideal situation would be more sax or string like where the third clarinets (all 5-8 of them) are replaced by an alto clarinet section. However, this might be cost prohibitive in a school situation. In addition, it would become a dumping ground for bad players in school (somewhat like the basses are today but worse, more like the Violas are in most school orchestras I've encountered). Its rare to find a kid that will willingly champion an underdog section.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-05-23 15:07
I can think of only one alto clarinet solo in the band literature. It's in Grainger's Lincolnshire Posey, the movement with "Poachers" in the title. The parts also give the solo to English horn, but I think Grainger wrote it for alto clarinet. At least that's the way the West Point Band used to do it.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Antonio
Date: 2001-05-23 20:45
Tks again
So in terms of clarinet a should keep playing my Eb or change to a bass, is that right? How about bass as a solo instrument?
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