 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Julie
Date: 2002-06-06 03:12
why doesn't anyone seem to like alto clarinets (excuse the generalization)?
bad question, perhaps? curiosity killed the cat...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-06-06 03:47
I like mine--but I like my Bass better. One other reason (for me at least) Older age and the subsequent stiff joints from "arthur--itis".
Can't get them to work, so, the Bass (Alto) works better.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Al
Date: 2002-06-06 03:58
When one has a plethora of fine clarinetists in his band,he can afford to use a 2 or 3 on Eb Alto. The parts are generally cross cued so there's no worry about missing something.
I once had a band with 14 Bb's, 3 altos, 3bass, one contra alto and one contrabass. I did not, however, use the Eb sopranino.
My reasons are my own. It takes an exceptional clarinetist to play the Eb sopranino. Which great 1st Bb player would I sacrifice?
Please, I've done it both ways. I won't use it EXCEPT for a specific passage in a specific work. Just my preference.
Al
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gabrielle
Date: 2002-06-06 04:27
Well I don't really like to play the Eb Alto clarinet because all the band arrangements I play in my band class have dead boring parts for the alto. (well except for one piece, Pachelbel's Canon, which is my absolute favourite song!)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2002-06-06 04:32
That is a generalization, Julie, but it's okay.
I've been doing some things recently on alto clarinet with violin and piano. We're pleased with how it's shaping up so far.
Obviously, I like the alto clarinet (and the violin and piano).
If that's "a majority of one" - that's okay too
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-06-06 16:28
I take all opportunities to play my Selmer-Paris Alto cl, which I regard as my affordable Basset Horn. Its tonality and response characteristics always come as a surprise from my more-frequent playing of bass and soprano insts. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-06-06 16:46
My thoughts on the unpopularity of alto clarinet (free and worth every cent):
1) Maybe this has changed, but back in my day (when T. Rex roamed the earth) the very worst clarinetists in the school band were made to switch to alto clarinet, with the next worse players being 'cordially required' to play bass clarinet (or be relegated to the lower-level band or not admitted at all). So most of the alto clarinetists sounded like c**p (as did the bass clarinetists).
2) Almost all alto clarinetists in school bands play school-owned instruments with (more importantly) whatever grungy, lousy stock mouthpiece resides in the case. How many non-adult alto clarinetists own their own mouthpiece (much less the instrument itself?). And where do most adult alto clarinetists come from? Probably from the ranks of those who played it in school.
3) The alto clarinet lower register, unless exceptionally well-played, sounds like a thin version of a bass clarinet and is generally better covered by the bass clarinet.
4) The alto clarinet upper register, unless exceptionally well-played, sounds like a thin version of a soprano clarinet (or, worse, like a really bad saxophone or strangled goose) and is generally better covered by the soprano clarinet.
I'm not just making this up --- I play mostly bass clarinet in ensembles, but also play some alto clarinet in a very good wind band. In one group I've twice played Alfred Reed's "Russian Christmas Music" which has numerous passages for the clarinet choir, and since we didn't have an alto clarinetist in this group I played the (important) alto clarinet cues on bass clarinet, and frankly, I think it sounded better that way. As much as I enjoy playing alto clarinet, I consider it to be sort of a mongrel horn that has very little usefulness. I wish it weren't so, but to deny it would be to pretend that the Emperor has clothes......
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jenna
Date: 2002-06-07 02:15
I like alto... sadly, however, I am one of those poor souls on a school horn. I keep it well regulated and use the mouthpiece of my choice, though. Alas, my alto time has passed. I graduate on the 12th, and with that my alto career will momentarily end. (Since I just sold <i>my</I> alto in favor of saving for a nicer one.)
Our band director was pretty good about sprinkling, especially amongst his clarinet players. The guy actually once said that if he ever obtained an Eb soprano, there would only be two players he'd allow anywhere near it - our first chair and myself. I played alto until this year, after a decent bass player graduated. Then I moved up. Before playing alto I was at the top of the 2nd section as a freshman, waiting to move up when openings appeared in the first section. It was through me running my mouth (a constant source of trouble for me) that I was dropped into the world of the color clarinets. I think it's done me well, though. The versatility comes in handy in HS bands, ensembles, and community groups.
Meet lots of criticism, though.
"I never liked the alto much anyway.. not even in clarinet choirs. It's a good thing you saw the light."
-my community band's new director, when he heard I was going to be rejoining the main section this week
On the otherhand, you do surprise people. I've received compliments from peers who had never actually experienced the horn played well before, directors who appreciated the tonal qualities, and even an old bassoon prof. (from Rowan U., if I remember correctly)
Oh well, sorry to keep rambling on... I'm making up for my absence during the last month or so.
In summary.. alto is defintely a personal thing. Kind of like whether or not you like mustard on your hot dog.. I love it, my best friend hates it.. and lots of people are ambivalent.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-06-07 16:10
It's the viola of the clarinet family. Look at the number of viola jokes there are floating around the internet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: j
Date: 2002-06-08 23:53
David Spiegelthal
if you are scared to say CRAP get out of here
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-06-09 01:55
j wrote:
>
> David Spiegelthal
>
> if you are scared to say CRAP get out of here
Some people are much more polite than others.
You're one of the others.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-06-10 17:37
j,
There's very little I'm afraid of, and as an ex-sailor, I'm reasonably conversant with profanity --- I just try to save it for appropriate times in appropriate forums. You got my meaning, and that's what matters in communication.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
