 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2018-06-10 01:44
https://www.facebook.com/westfalenwinds/videos/1928684923830852/?hc_ref=ARTxW1XtVKyt14b48knbNsBllP3ZKNrK6IPCBTbxetuI3Kvb7vG3gY9lYqzu7s1HKRk&fref=nf
There's few people that really love this instrument, and most people either don't know about or consider it out of tune, not fitting into the orchestra all the time. I've too gotten to know this instrument in a negative way, (sure enough, the Efer guy in this project told me, after I praised the alto's qualities: "Yeah, there's also some people who like fat women, I guess") but there's really some beauty to it, as the voicing has just the right amount of additional "depth" to it, without being as powerful like on the bass clarinet. Not only has playing the alto clarinet improved my performance on the soprano clarinet (and opened the door for bass), this orchestra project has given me one of my favorite moments on the clarinet ever, so I'm really looking forward to playing Lincolnshire Posy again this autumn.
On of the reasons is probably that it connects with all instrument groups - horns, the other clarinets, saxophones, oboes, low brass/woodwinds, you name it - and can thus perhaps support the orchestra as a whole, even if only by a tiny edge. Deemed an outsider, I feel it's a great instrument that deserves more attention. What do think about it?
Also, why not extend it's range low D or C so it could be used as an emergency replacement for the basset horn?
Best regards,
Christian
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2018-06-10 02:32
I agree Kal. It has a lovely sound when the correct mouthpiece and reed is used. The only problem I think is that some regard it as being in competition to the Eb Alto Sax. That's missing the point altogether. It's an important Alto voice to the Clarinets. Also it's a good idea you have of suggesting that the range be extended down to low D/C and using the instrument as an alternative to the F Alto Clarinet (Basset 'Horn') The transposition would only be a tone higher which shouldn't be much of a problem. Keep in mind though that the Alto Clarinet belongs to the larger bore Clarinets whereas the F Clarinet has a similar bore to the Sopranos above it. Years ago I had a Buescher Eb Alto and used it in a local band. It belonged to the band. It was very pleasurable to use as I loved the sound of it. . The one thing I noticed on this Buescher Alto Clarinet was the 'rocker' key mechanism which you used to over blow to the twelves. It was not very well made and didn't function properly at times.
Skyfacer
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2018-06-10 02:43
With regards to the low D extension, a little while ago a Conn low D alto clarinet sold on a particular auction site. Apparently it was some rare prototype and there was only one in exsistance. Unfortunately it sold before I even saw it. I've also heard that Hammerschmidt made alto clarients in Eb that extend to low C although i've never seen pictures.
Personally I love alto clarinets and basset horns. I find them to be quite capiable when set up correctly. The problem of course is that it's hard to try mouthpieces and reeds for them when there are so few people making alto clarinet accessories. I still haven't found a perfect mouthpiece/reed setup for my alto clarinet and I only just recently found a good setup for my basset horn, even though I've been trying mouthpieces for years. With the right setup, these instruments can be just as loud, in tune and beautiful sounding as any other member of the clarinet family.
Funny story, my friend use to hate alto clarinet. Then one day an opportunity arose to play in in our community band and she took it. Fortunately the local university had just purchased a relatively new Yamaha alto which they loaned out to her so she got a taste of the good life. Now she wants an alto for herself...
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2018-06-10 03:59
Reed/MPC combo for me now is a bass clarinet legere 2 3/4 reed, as the Vandoren alto reeds and certain sax reeds too simply sucked, and a Vandoren B44 (since I didn't have any better options) which was decent, but not perfect I imagine. In fact despite my very subjetive experience, I feel a different, preferably much more open MPC could bring even closer to the F clarinets than it already is, but I couldn't think of an (affordable) maker. Let's be honest, is anyone too bothered by the considerable bore differences between german and boehm bass clarinets, whereas basset horns are supposed to have such a superior tone due to a smaller bore? I'd say, it's just different and there'd be no shame in practising Mozart on an alto.
IIRC, the 1950s Selmer altos had a relatively small bore, ever had one in your hands jdbass? Would love to try a current Yamaha, but where to borrow one...
The Selmer is a beast in its own right, but can produce a sweet and lovely tone, just don't rely on any regular altissimo fingerings.
There's an instrument maker, Martin Foag in Germany that builds both german and boehm system eb alto clarinets; he's most likely able to build them with an extended range, but it'll take a few years till I can afford one...
Re the alto sax similarities: One can sound a tad saxophone-like in the 2nd and 3rd register, but the alto saxohpone can hardly sound like an alto clarinet and especially lacks the warmth and softness in the chalumneau, so it's almost unfortunate that they're both in the same key. I'd rather alto clarinets were regarded as a very different voice.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2018-06-10 14:20
That's interesting that you use a bass clarinet reed on alto. I'll have to try that.
I use to have a vintage Selmer alto but sold it and bought a 1955 Buffet alto. The bore is a bit larger on the Buffet but the Buffet has a left hand Ab/Eb key which I consider a must have on all my instruments. The Selmer is still a great alto and if it had a left hand Eb key I probably would still have it.
Having owned both a small bore basset horn (early Buffet, 15.5mm bore) and a small bore alto (1970s, 17mm bore) Selmer, I can say that the tone is different between the two. Of course it's not a huge difference but it is noticeable. You can make alto sound more like basset horn by using a mouthpiece with a close facing. But then this goes back to the arguement that not enough people are making alto clarinet accessories as most manufacturers make relatively open mouthpieces for alto clarinet to satisfy the jazz and wind ensemble/concert band players who make up 99% of the people playing alto. I have an old mouthpiece with a close facing that I use when I want my alto to sound like a basset horn, but unfortunately the mouthpiece is very worn and I'll probably have to get it refaced soon.
Of course I'm not saying that the tone is bad on alto, it's just different than small bore basset horn and has its own unique properties. I love the tone I get from my alto and wish I had more opportunities to play it.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2018-06-10 15:59
Yes, the legere reed was so much safer to play than anything else. In particular, I had to go to up to the altissimo F for a part in de Meijs Lord of the rings, for which the regular fingerings didn't work at all - instead, I had to use a combination of side trill keys and throat fingerings and still use my embouchure to raise the pitch. Still failed one note, but I never had struggle that much on any other clarinet.
Thanks for clarifying on the MPCs, I though mine needed to be a bit more resistant, but I'm no expert on this topic Playnick has one on offer for both alto and basset horn, however once again there's 0 information on the facing
Actually been thinking to play this rather than an Eb alto sax in a ska band, because the sax I've borrowed is a rather crappy one. That'd be one possibility to play the instrument, wouldn't it ?:D
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Author: Allison
Date: 2018-06-11 05:51
I am very happy with the alto that Steve Fox made for me in 2015. It is a gorgeous instrument that plays perfectly in tune, and yes it does go to a low D. It is the instrument shown on his website. In the 3 years that I have had it I have learned that it is perfectly capable of a wide variety of voices depending on what you want it to sound like, and on the mouthpiece and reed being used. I also have a pair of Rossi Bb & A and a Stephen Fox C and they are beautiful instruments to play, but the alto is my favourite.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2018-06-11 05:56
Allison,
The Stephen Fox alto looks very reminiscent of a Leblanc. Does it use the same keywork as a Leblanc or are the keys made from scratch? Also is the bore around 18mm like Leblanc altos? From the pictures I've seen that alto looks very nice, I'm quite jealous!
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Allison
Date: 2018-06-11 06:13
The key work is handmade and the instrument is his own design. I do not know what the bore size (I never asked come to think of it). I was more concerned about it having a warm beautiful sound and impeccable tuning and about the keywork fitting some of my short somewhat mangled fingers. I have worked with Stephen before and trust his judgement, so gave him complete freedom to do as he wished. He could tell you better than I can, precisely what was done. I honestly cannot think of anything I would change.
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2018-06-11 08:45
My perception as a Band Director was that it was simply too soft to make any impact on the music. Of course I may be prejudiced in that I found it, like the Bass Clarinet, nasty to repair.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
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Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
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