 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2017-06-26 20:45
I'm a clarinet player/hobbyist in my late 40's. In the past year, I switched from a very cushy corporate job, which I very much disliked but which offered lots of time for hobbies including playing in a variety of different groups. My new job is far more enjoyable, but far more demanding, which has caused me to cut back my playing activities significantly.
I'm currently playing in just one group (a high level concert band made up of a combination of music teachers, college students, and others from the surrounding community), and have been playing 1st clarinet and Eb clarinet when needed. However, playing in the springtime, I found it very difficult to keep up with practicing and learning the parts given my job's significant workload and limited practice time.
As I approach the fall (I took the summer off from playing), I have let the director know that I need to take a bit of a "step back", and he has suggested a few options: move to 2nd clarinet (I've played it before and it has been fun), move to bass clarinet (we already have 2 players, and I have played bass in my distant past), and alto/contra-alto clarinet (an slightly odd combination, and it would be dependent on available/necessary parts, but it could actually be fun). He has left the decision completely up to me.
I'm leaning towards the alto/contra-alto just because it's a bit crazy (and when would I have the opportunity again?)....but are there really any parts for those horns? Maybe I should just play 2nd clarinet and not mess with the auxilliary horns? Any thoughts or guidance from those who have played these parts in a concert band previously?
Thanks in advance.
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-06-26 21:47
Probably not a lot of beefy music for alto/contra clarinet in the concert band world. Even with very advanced wind literature, the part might be just ok. (Off the top of my head - Lincolnshire has an alto clarinet solo with the piccolo in the last mvt - still not that challenging.) I suspect you'll find it limiting.
Perhaps you could play 2nd and pick the Eb still when called upon.
Good Luck!
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Author: Wes
Date: 2017-06-26 22:46
The contra alto can also play the bassoon, baritone sax, or baritone horn bass clef parts if there is no contra alto part. I play soprano clarinet in a band with one and I often hear that contra alto. Although the alto clarinet in the band is quite a good player, I rarely, if ever, hear the alto clarinet. The Bundy contra alto clarinet is pretty good. You might find also playing some Eb sopranino worth while, but they all require some practice. Good luck!
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2017-06-27 01:18
Great input and feedback, thanks!
I'm still not sure which direction I'll go, but these are excellent points to consider.
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2017-06-27 04:58
Play 2nd. It's the 2nds and 3rds that can really make the whole clarinet section and the band sound fantastic.
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Author: davyd
Date: 2017-06-28 02:39
If your job is demanding enough to significantly cut into your preparation time, that might rule out the Bass option, as you haven't played it recently. How recently have you played much Alto or Contra?
I'm thinking your best option might be 2nd (or 3rd) exclusively, leaving the auxiliary (Eb, Alto, Contra) playing to others. If you have to miss a concert because of your job, the band would not have to scramble to cover an important passage on an auxiliary that you would have been playing.
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2017-06-28 19:35
Again, great insights and guidance. That's why I love this Board!
Leaning towards 2nd at the moment, but haven't ruled contra/alto out. I think I'll leve bass for another time (it HAS been a while since I played it).
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2017-07-01 02:21
I have played all the auxillary clarinets and they are fun and challenging to get a good sound. Occasionally they have a cool solo too and I have had prominent solos on Eb, alto, and contrabass as well as numerous ones on bass. If the conductor knows he has a player on these horns, he may be more likely to perform those pieces too. I have also played the contrabassoon parts on the contra-alto when that instrument was not available.
These instruments don't have the pressure of first but you occasionally get some juicy parts. To me it is a perfect fit.
Eefer guy
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Author: Ed
Date: 2017-07-01 02:27
Any can be fun. One plus with doing 2nd is that you would be keeping up regular Bb clarinet chops. Going with one of the other options has value, but is a little different animal, which won't necessarily help your clarinet playing.
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Author: William Hughes ★2017
Date: 2017-07-03 21:18
I have played Contra Alto exclusively since I restarted my musical "career" about 15 years ago. In addition to the several parts on which you can double listed by Wes, I sometimes also pick up tuba or string bass parts.
There is a website that has a nice commentary on the role of Contra Alto in the band setting, with some parts for commonly played pieces written by the poster specifically for the instrument:
http://timerick.mm.st/ContraAlto/
Good luck with your new role, whatever you decide.
William Hughes
Post Edited (2017-07-03 21:20)
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2017-07-03 23:30
Thank you all for your input and guidance. Your advice has been very helpful!
Ultimately, I decided to go with 2nd clarinet, with the caveat that I may need to revisit my decision after the first concert of the year.
This was based on the needs of the group (i.e., we already have two fine bass clarinet players), the availability of parts (alto clarinet parts are becoming more scarce in the literature this group plays frequently), and trying to stay true to actually simplifying my musical preparation (i.e., I became intimidated by the potential transposition and part juggling needed to ensure that there's a contra alto part for me to play!)
I'll give this a try and go from there. If I still need to step back further, I think I'll be making a pitch to move to alto clarinet for the Holiday concert!
Thank you all once again! I'll let you know how this goes.
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2020-01-25 03:52
Two and a half years later....I'm now playing bass clarinet and contra alto (when there's a part or I can transpose the contrabass part). It's a blast.
I do miss the more challenging clarinet parts, but the bass and contra parts require significantly less practice and fit my schedule (with more limited practice time) better.
It's great to be a clarinet player and have so many options! Lots of other players of other instruments have noted to me that they don't have as many choices when it comes to switching around when things change in life.
Post Edited (2020-01-27 03:58)
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Author: kilo
Date: 2020-01-25 14:06
Thanks for the update. Really glad it worked out for you.
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Author: JJB
Date: 2020-01-26 21:20
That's awesome! So has your band had 3 bass clarinet players then, or did one of them move on to something else? How difficult was the transition to bass? I've been a Bb player forever and purchased a bass last year, but I was dismayed to realize it was going to take quite a bit more practice than I expected to get used to it. Unfortunately it's gathering dust for the moment. :( I play 2 other instruments that are more important to me and it's been too difficult to fit in a 3rd.
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2020-01-27 20:48
JJB: I spent last year as a second clarinet, which was a blast but required more practice time than I had to give (i.e., I didn't consistently prepare those parts as well as I would have liked to).
So, when one of the bass clarinet players moved on for this year, it created the opening for me to reconsider bass again. And since I own a lovely Selmer Rosewood contra alto, I realized that this was the opportunity to play it. I spent the summer remembering how to play bass and contra (mostly air and embouchure issue), and was ready to go when we started up in the Fall. Because I have played bass previously, it was really just a process of remembering.
While the fingerings and basics are the same, it's a very different experience playing the bigger clarinets! But I'm finding it to be great fun (although occasionally longing for some slightly more challenging parts, if I'm completely honest)
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Author: JJB
Date: 2020-01-27 23:33
Glad that's working out for you! Besides air and embouchure, I also struggle with the fingerings a bit because my hands are small. And I agree that sometimes the parts are pretty boring! I do wish I had the time to devote to it though, because I think it would be a fun change. Ah well...perhaps when I'm retired.
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Author: EbClarinet
Date: 2020-01-28 04:38
you can play the bass trombone, cello and bass viol parts on contralto with little transposition - just change the bass clef to treble clef and keep the key signature- the contralto and contrabass player in college band had 2 switch horns
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/mbtldsongministry/
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