 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2002-07-14 14:31
I recently purchased a Buffet alto clarinet off of ebay--it had been played for a few
years by a musician in California. The alto needed a few
adjustments and the middle joint seemed a little loose so I had
a new cork put on, but it's in like-new condition now. For the past year and a half I've been playing my Selmer Bundy (single plastic
body) and it's served me well, but I am in awe of how much
easier the Buffet plays. I love this instrument. I'd give
up playing Bb in one of my bands but the director doesn't see
the need for an alto. I'm an average player anyway and I
need all the help I can get--I'm glad I invested in this one.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-07-14 18:11
Congrats!, I firmly believe there is a future for the Eb Alto cl , it just needs to be looked for and found. Our [community] concert band music has parts for it, some of which do much more than just echo the alto sax/3rd clar melodies/harmonies, but "fill-out" the woodwind choir. I always hope than another bass cl player will show up, so I can renew my ?skills? on alto. Don
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2002-07-14 19:57
I can't see doing <i>Lincolnshire</i> without an alto and I'm sure there are others than BB'ers can think of as well.
<a href="http://www.cork-and-pad.woodwind.org">jbutler</a>
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-07-15 04:32
The alto clarinet is a nice instrument - sadly it's not very common in Australian bands (nor British ones from what I can gather). I've composed some music for clarinet choir and I made a point of giving the alto clarinetist a challenge, not a holiday. Enjoy your playing of the "ugly step-sister" of the clarinet family and thank your lucky stars you're not playing the little brat of the family, er the charming e-flat.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2002-07-15 13:40
So far finding parts has not been much of a problem. I play
alto full time in one band; the parts are a little simple
at times, but I just use that time to try to play pretty--which
can be a challenge in itself! Sometimes I have to play a Bari-sax or alto-sax part. One thing that I have noticed is that the alto clarinet parts will have two or three measure sections
of "solo" interspersed in the music--enough to keep me interested, and
to keep the Bb's a litte jealous.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-07-15 17:55
Michael -
I played a new Buffet alto about a year ago, and it was wonderful. None of the stuffy, cold-in-the-nose quality of the el-cheapo instruments, but a real contralto richness. Selmers from the 50s and 60s are also excellent.
If you love the alto, stick with it. Remember that Mozart preferred to play the viola (even though he was a top violinist), since he could hear and be a part of everything going on under the melody. Anton Stadler, Mozart's clarinetist, preferred to play the basset horn, for the same reason.
To hear good alto playing, get some of the Stoltzman theme CDs that have the "Opperman Clarinet Choir" on them. It's a group where everybody's a virtuoso and capable of stepping up and playing a solo, and the alto player is particularly good. The Carmen Suite is astonishing.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2002-07-15 21:32
Thanks for the CD recommendations Ken; I'll check into them. I didn't know that about Mozart. You're right about the lack of
stuffiness in the Buffet alto. Crossing the break from
Bb to B on my old alto gave me the chills--now I don't even
think about it.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-07-17 00:55
Mozart often played viola in a quartet with other luminaries as Haydn and Bocherini - must have been a superb quartet.
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