 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Late_returner
Date: 2021-02-11 02:59
Hi
I would like to ask how possible is it to sight read extended passages in the Altissimo ?
1/ The note places are not so familiar above say E , and may need a bit of extra thought, especially if ledger line hight is not too consistent. I can see this will resolve with greater familiarity.
2/ Chosing the fingering / embouchure for the high stuff requires thinking about preceeding and following notes before a good choice is made. Can this be done on the hoof ,first reading ?
Thanks in advance for any answers.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2021-02-11 05:37
Like anything, it just requires time and effort.
Here is an example:
I think we naturally noodle more in "C" and the first few flats and sharps. Also the much of wind band music is in flat keys for us, so we are better at flat keys up to three flats (and not so much in the keys of "Db," "Gb"). So we are pretty good in "Bb" major but may need to give attention to passages in "Gb."
Likewise, we don't spend as much time in the altissimo and that adds to the challenge.
You bring up an interesting point about fingerings though. There are many different combinations. There are at least three good fingerings for each altissimo note starting with the "C#" two ledgers above the staff: the usual, high C plus the lowest two side keys, and register (NO THUMB) and 1st finger of left hand. That's just for starters.
Then you have to consider the note you're coming from and/or the note you are going to.
I'd say it's like Mike Lowenstern's advice on how to kill it with the Rose Etudes. Just practice your Baermann III until it is second nature (during these Covid days it is really easy to do several days in a row or even a week or more JUST PRACTICING ALTISSIMO! Why not?
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2021-02-11 06:10
Counting ledger lines on the fly can be one of the challenges in sight reading 1st cl. parts in marches. They look different between publishers and vintages, and sometimes the parts are in poor shape. And they're often printed small. Use a good light if you can.
I tend to pick one main goto fingering for each altissimo note and use it whenever possible, even if it seems awkward at first in some contexts. You'll learn where alternate fingerings have to be used, especially if you practice scale patterns up there.
You don't need to modify a good embouchure to play altissimo, at least not until you're above C7 or higher.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2021-02-11 07:01
Playing thru the microscopically printed solo clarinet part in old-traditional marches are a challenge ... but I don't think I've seen anything above a B-flat above high C. I happily hung out in the 2nd and 3rds for a while, but when moved to solo/1st, my reading above the staff was rusty and was a source of embarrassment and frustration. And going for more in-tune fingerings (E-flat and F-sharp, for example) led to more complexity and awkwardness ...
Finesse and delicacy is the approach. High notes will carry, penetrate and contrast, so you don't need a lot of acoustical power. When playing first section in the band, we usually vote for just one player taking the top octave above the staff ...
Think you have problems? Try playing the E-flat clarinet in band literature.
Re-arrangements of the old power marches have watered down the demands in the stratosphere ...
You got to have balanced reeds, a good MP, and fight the tendency to stress out, bite and choke the air flow when playing high notes. Dial in the sweet and easy spot on your gear, embouchure and air supply and relax and enjoy.
Tom
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2021-02-12 02:25
One thing I THINK may have helped me over time is I practice the couple advanced flute method books I own.
Also just fooling around up there so the fingerings (and some alternates) become as second nature as lower notes. Then all you have to get used to is all the ledger lines. Sometimes I'll be reading something in the "normal range" then play it an octave higher.
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Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
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