 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: davyd
Date: 2009-09-16 04:04
I've not seen an alto clarinet with a curved neck before (though to be fair, I've not seen many alto clarinets). What brand is it? Or is the curved neck something that is sold separately?
I trust the player used the instrument in other selections. I've never been keen on lugging an instrument for just one tune.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-09-16 09:36
That's awesome. Same key as an alto sax, more than enough range to cover it, and you don't have to learn sax fingerings.
Alexi
[EDIT]
PS - If that's the case for the alto clarinet (to replace an alto sax), it puts more credibility towards my idea of one day getting a C clarinet to play along with any sort of score. MUCH easier than (oh boy....) learning to sight transpose . . . . which I am NOT really looking forward to trying to learn....
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2009-09-16 09:46)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-09-16 10:01
Interesting Glenn....but.....uh......now we know why
Bob Draznik
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-09-16 14:00
Leblanc uas/had? the only "swan" curved neck I know of, and I have a copy of its US patent, will dig out the # is requested. You may see some of these on EBAY, at higher prices than the angled neck variety [1960-80. ] I tried to find an neck only to try/fit? on my fine Selmer A C, to relieve some of my neck positioning ?strain. I also blew some jazz on at least one of my altos. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-09-16 17:38
Hi,
Having sat next to or near alto clarinets over the years while playing BC or tenor sax in concert bands, I just can't seem to appreciate the sound. As a solo jazz instrument in Woodchoppers, the range and timbre are just not convincing IMHO. The player had nice technique but I think I would have liked clarinet or alto instead.
Also, the tessitura of certain jazz tunes usually fits just one or two woodwinds from among soprano, alto, tenor, bari, or clarinet. Or seems to lay well. I'm not convinced that although I have owned alto clarinets that I would ever take one to a jazz gig.
HRL
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-09-16 19:04
I forgot to mention that an A C;s volume ,even with wide lay mps and soft reeds is srtill too low, except perhaps for Very sweet, combo-style tunes IMHO. However it is much less "screecy" in the high notes I Don't like that in some of the ?modern? jazz, with the A S above about high F, the A C has a fine wide range !!. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-09-16 20:02
Alto clarinets have a wider range than tenor and alto saxes combined, though I don't think the world is a ready place to accept them in place of either.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-09-16 22:47
Chris P wrote:
> Alto clarinets have a wider range than tenor and alto saxes
> combined, though I don't think the world is a ready place to
> accept them in place of either.
Depends. We cannot wait for someone else to have the guts to play that beast in public yet lament that it has no place in a modern lineup.
I'd have to problem to stand up and play it. Maybe I should grab an eefer part next summer (I'm on bass in winter)...even if it's just for looks. My Bundy surely sings, dunno if it is because of my mouthpiece, or because it doesn't have plateau-ed keys.
--
Ben
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Author: Wicked Good ★2017
Date: 2009-09-17 01:30
I dunno, I kind of like playing jazz on an alto clarinet. I also seem to remember doubling (actually quintupling) on alto clarinet while playing a Toshiko Akiyoshi tune ... maybe Road Time Shuffle?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-09-17 11:25
Years ago I used to bring my bass clarinet semi-regularly to jazz jam sessions, and play it on a few numbers with a regular jazz group of which I was a member --- it always stirred up a tiny bit of interest, and I enjoyed playing it, but most of the audience hardly recognized it for what it was. In the end, I spent more time playing saxophone under those circumstances because of the much greater dynamic and (dare I say it?) emotional range available from saxophones. So having an alto clarinet in a big band is a cool novelty, but not much more than than, in my opinion.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2009-09-17 11:56
Actually Hamiett Blueiett used the alto clarinet very effectively in some jazz pieces. I have a CD of this. Very nice too. Of course a lot of jazz bass parts too.
I think we EXPECT to hear saxes in jazz pieces but other instruments work too.
Eefer guy
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-09-17 13:16
Courtney Pine used bass clarinet a lot (he played a Leblanc bass in the '80s), and there are several others that use bass clarinet for jazz.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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