 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clare
Date: 2002-06-29 11:34
I've never come across any concert band music scored with an Ab sopranino part, but assume that is partly because it is more common in the US and continental Europe than here in the UK. [Also, obviously, because it's not widely used.]
From what I've seen on the BB a number of you (well, OK, a smallish number) have played Ab in band or ensembles. Has much been written to include the instrument? Can anyone steer me to suitable arrangements/recordings?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-06-29 13:28
It is a most uncommon instrument in the US - I have never seen it played in any band concert I've ever attended. Eb - yes, Ab - no.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-06-29 15:07
Like M C, I've not seen ANY. The Eb is difficult enough to play, and will prob. be flat to a [sharp] piccolo as usual!! Don
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Author: John Moses
Date: 2002-06-29 17:45
The "Ab" piccolo clarinet is a beast. Used primarily in the military-type bands in Italy and England.
I played one years ago made in Italy, it lacks some high trill keys, and other minor differences. The intonation is very OUT!
They make great lamps.
JJM
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-06-29 18:06
Leblanc used to make Ab clarinets, I believe, and they were probably well made from looking at the one I tried. My hands are larger than anyone elses and won't fit on the Ab but are fine on the Eb. The Cambridge Companion to the Clarinet edited by Colin Lawson refers to the Ab clarinet being used in stage band parts for some of the Verdi operas, La Traviata, Un Ballo in Maschera, and Ernani(two parts). Bartok used it in his Scherzo for Piano and Orchestra. Good Luck!
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2002-06-29 18:33
I may be mistaken, but I think LeBlanc makes the only Ab in current production of the Big 4. Anyway that is what the current LeBlanc clarinet catalog states. The LeBlanc "LL" in the key of Ab.
jbutler
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-06-29 18:51
If you want to hear a recording of this instrument, I believe it is used occasionally in a CD by a clarinet sextet known as 'The Clarinet Section' available from Clarinet Classics. Sorry I don't have the exact number, but I'm sure it can be found.
jez
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-06-29 19:12
The CD's entitled "La Jardin Ferrique" CC0036
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-06-29 21:41
Steve - I looked briefly in Rendall and Brymer, R shows a pic of a Sopranino A, Munich, 2 key [looks like a 6" recorder] but in speaking of "family" its from Ab down, as does Brymer. Just the way they all survived?? I'd guess. Prob. somebodies-nuts made one in every possible key in our checkered history? Don
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-07-01 03:12
Don, I was just thinking that the other day after reading the beginning of this discussion. I envisioned a couple of octaves' worth of clarinets! Wonderful mental picture, but I'm not sure I'd wanna play ALL of them! (particularly the low ones...I've never had very good experiences with Bass clarinets, and have NEVER touched an alto clarinet even!)
Katrina
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Author: Arnold the basset hornist
Date: 2002-07-01 06:24
Well,
the Ab Clarinet was (past tense) used in military and military like bands in Germany, too. My theory is, that it was replaced by the boehm flute (for better intonation).
One semitone pitched down, the high G clarinet was used (and rarely still is, mostly played by professionals) at the Vienna region for folk musik, namely 'Schrammelmusik' (also, search for 'Georg Dänzer').
I own a CD by the <a href=http://www.philharmoniaschrammeln.at/>Philharmonia Schrammeln</a> with some 'Schrammelmusik' played with this 'picksüßes Hölzl' - thats the Vienna nickname for the high G clarinet. Try to hear the 'Antoinetten-Polka'.
I hope, this is a usefull information, I could contribute,
Arnold (the basset hornist)
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-07-01 09:48
The smallest clarinet I've come across is a Piccolo Bb in the possession of the CASSGB librarian. Anyone beat that?
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-07-01 15:47
The Ab clarinet came up on the Klarinet board just last week. I wrote:
I've read that Italian military bands use Ab clarinets, but in many years of band playing (including 3 in the West Point Band), I've seen only one piece that had an Ab part - a pretty awful suite by a German composer called "Ich bin Soldat, Valera" (I'm a Soldier - Hurrah). The Ab part doubled the Eb throughout. During that period (1965-68), the military was rolling in money, and the Special Bands could get anything they wanted. In fact, they bought a new Leblanc BBb contra for this piece (which I was detailed to play). Thus if there had been any possible use for an Ab clarinet, they would have gotten it.
Also, I've tried several Ab clarinets, including a Leblanc, an anonymous stencil, both with standard Boehm keywork, and I couldn't get my fingers on them. (I have largish hands but slim fingers.) If I could have played one, I'd probably have bought it. Baines (Woodwind Instruments and Their History) says most Ab clarinets have simple system keywork because of the space problem, but I tried one of them, too, and still couldn't squeeze tight enough.
I've heard of but never seen the sopranino Bb that jez mentions. jez - is there a photo online? I can't imagine anyone but a small child could play it, and only dogs and bats could appreciate its better qualities.
But again, there's a "garklein" recorder in high C (an octave above the piccolo and half its length). I've never been able to squeeze my fingers on one of these, either, but I've heard them played by at least a few adults (including the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet), for even there only a few measures and as a special effect.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: clare
Date: 2002-07-01 16:05
Thanks all for your suggestions. I'm looking out "La Jardin Ferrique" and will seek out some schrammelmusic when I visit Vienna in the summer.
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Author: Arnold the basset hornist
Date: 2002-07-02 06:43
Well, Clare,
do not forget that 'Schrammelmusik' did become the name of a music style, not only with the 'Schrammel Quartet' instrumentation, which was (originally) 2 violins, guitar and high G clarinet.
Arnold (the basset hornist)
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-07-02 07:30
Wow - what an interesting instrument - I have enough trouble wrapping my fingers around my little Leblanc effer = let alone something smaller! Not suitable for "big, boofy, blokes" (please pardon my Aussie vernacular).
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-07-02 07:34
jez - g'day mate
out of curiosity - do you play on a D clarinet for Strauss, or do you transpose onto your effer?
thanks
diz
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Author: nzdonald
Date: 2002-07-02 08:51
ok- i believe that Naxos have released a CD of "schrammelmusik" with a G clarinet being used.... i haven't heard it myself, but this was related to me by a friend who heard it while at someones house looking at their G CLARINET...... crazy!
i actually have a Garklein recorder- my ex mother in law gave it to me and it is a highly prized possession. it is a lovely instrument, very hard to play though. THANK THE GOOD LORD it doesn't use a reed- that would make it more pain than it's worth. i love the E flat clarinet but this A flat clarinet creature sounds like a real horror story come true. like sharks, i'm happy to see this in books or on tv(after music my major hobby is the surf). i just thought of a new series- "Buffy the Aflat clarinet slayer"
donald
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-07-02 13:01
diz,
I've always just used the Eb. The transposition's a bit easier for me than up-a-tone.
I did try a D recently (Leblanc) but I thought that even if it made some bits easier (not just D parts, look at the Eb part in Daphnis UP a semitone) I couldn't get away from feeling that I couldn't make it sound as rich as my Selmer Eb and surely that's what counts most.
jez
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-07-02 13:47
The Naxos CD is # 8.550228, "Music From Old Vienna." It's absolutely charming, and the G clarinet playing is amazingly sweet and tasteful. I strongly recommend it.
Ken Shaw
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-07-02 16:17
Ken Shaw,
I can,t find any pictures. There's mention under Paul Sargeant and a recording wuth Douglas Ewart. Does any one know him?
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-07-02 19:55
jez -
There are some nice pictures of a G instrument at the site Arnold links to above.
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