The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

German-system bass clarinet

Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-03-11 15:13

Anyone here on the BB play a German (Oehler)-system bass clarinet? I've started fooling around with one and am having a great time.

Other than the fingering differences compared to Boehm-system (which aren't as huge as they seem at first), the instrument has a much smaller bore than the French instrument, barely larger than a Boehm alto clarinet or basset horn. Anyone familiar with playing oboe will recognize the fingering differences, as they are basically 'oboe fingerings' done on the clarinet.

My initial impression (after just a week of playing time) is that the instrument plays with somewhat more resistance overall, and gets a more 'reedy' and focused sound but with a bit less volume -- however the nature of the tone seems to be more penetrating which compensates for the reduced power output (I write this after just two orchestra rehearsals using the instrument, during which neither the musicians in front of me nor the conductor had the slightest trouble hearing me!).

In our clarinet quartet, the German bass clarinet (as I expected) blended better with the soprano clarinets and wasn't so prone to overwhelm them as the French-system bass (of which mine is a German-made Kohlert, ironically).

I'd be very interested in hearing from anyone with experience playing such a beast, or having heard one played in concert, especially in an orchestral setting.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics