 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: fuzzystradjazz
Date: 2016-01-07 21:12
As a few of you might remember, I play a simple/Albert system clarinet circa 1898 as my primary instrument (jazz). Generally, I've avoided the medium/high altissimo range since moving over to this fingering system back in 2007....because I've just never enjoyed the higher notes while playing early jazz; I usually don't go above D or E in normal play.
However, after a 15+ year absence from classical music, I've recently pulled out some classical music to brush up on my reading (and other) skills. What I'm finding is that the standard Boehm fingerings for F# and G above the staff don't want to speak very well - they don't have good tone, and don't hold well - they seem to lose stability. (It very well could be me, and a lack of practice on these tones - but the notes up to F# and G seem good and stable.)
I'm curious whether there are some alternate (or unique) fingerings used on Albert system clarinets for these notes. I've poked around trying to find alternates, but have been unsuccessful so far.
The clarinet I play has no rings on the upper joint, two rings on the lower joint, and THREE upper joint side keys (for playing Eb/Bb, etc.)
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Fuzzy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-01-07 21:37
Simple and Boehm system fingerings are not the same in altissimo.
There are some sources of fingering charts on this board - try searching "fingering charts" or similar. Others may be able to point you directly them.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: fuzzystradjazz
Date: 2016-01-07 21:49
Norman:
Thanks for the quick response. As you suggested, I found a wonderful (still-working) link provided by the ever-helpful Ken Shaw. http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/ocl_bas_3.html The sheet provided two alternates which work much better on my instrument (for me at least).
Thank you so much for pointing me in the (what should have been obvious) correct direction!
Fuzzy
Edited to correct a grammatical error.
Post Edited (2016-01-07 22:28)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: andgar
Date: 2016-01-08 04:01
On my 4 ring Adler Albert (no idea in the faintest when it was made...) I use:
F#: RT -2-|---G# (same as Boehm)
G: RT -2-|123G#
G#: RT ---|123G#
A: RT -23|---F for A
Bb: RT -23C#|123G#
and that's as high as I bother going for most jazz playing.
That said, I have a 2 ring Rampone Albert and the tuning up there is different so I think there will be adjustments with right hand venting on that horn. You could also try venting with the left hand pinky F key instead of the G# to get more tone stability on your instrument too.
Having now played 3 different Alberts, I'm finding that you really need to develop unique altissimo fingerings for each instrument. Each one also has different resonance fingerings for throat A and Bb.
Post Edited (2016-01-08 04:02)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: fuzzystradjazz
Date: 2016-01-08 10:49
Andgar,
Thanks for sharing what works for you. I also appreciate your insight/thoughts on the difference from Albert to Albert. I'll keep testing to see what I can figure out. Thanks for the encouragement!
Fuzzy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
