This is a wooden alto clarinet and it comes with a C star mouthpiece which has a small chip on it. The Basset Horn is a close relative and an easy (though very expensive) transition for alto too. In his Treatise on Orchestration and Instrumentation, Hector Berlioz said of the alto clarinet, "It is a very beautiful instrument which ought to take its place in all well-established orchestras."[9]. Today they have the characteristic bend in the barrel which is usually made from metal - and they usually show a metal funnel like a bass clarinet although some do not; it seems that is more an esthetical feature. clarinet for over 20 years. It’s also used in many styles of music. I have a Model 60 LeBlanc Alto Clarinet. It is also Karlheinz Stockhausen has also composed for the alto clarinet and basset horn. Somehow the A clarinet made it through the cracks. The clarinet was a very popular instrument in jazz from the 1910s to the 1940s. The Eb Alto Clarinet, at 43 inches long, is said to be the modern form of the bassett horn. A few modern instruments with basset keys have larger bores, but these use alto clarinet mouthpieces, and are properly considered hybrids between the two instruments. It’s the lowest pitched of the commonly used clarinets, one octave lower than the bass clarinet. When people talk about the clarinet, the word “clarinet” by itself always refers to the Bb clarinet. The "soprano" clarinets in B♭ and A share their lowest octaves with the alto saxophone (minus a semitone in the case of the B♭ clarinet). It bears a greater resemblance to the bass clarinet in that it typically has a straight body (made of grenadilla or other wood, hard rubber, or plastic), but a curved neck and bell made of metal. They are low clarinets (in Eb or in F respectively). However, their fingerings can be set to clarinet fingerings, making it easy for a clarinet player to play them. [3] The alto clarinet may have been invented independently in America; the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a bassoon-shaped alto clarinet in E♭, cataloged as an "alto clarion", attributed to an anonymous American maker circa 1820. On an A clarinet, when you play C, the note sounding is a concert A. At least hardly anybody. Clarinets are used in all types of music. It was used in New Orleans music, but became extremely popular during the big band era. Names such as Benny Goodman and Woody Herman are still household names. He is available for teaching lessons in the NY/NJ area and his Musika teaching profile can be found here. See The Clarinet: Different Kinds and Pitches [10][11] Stravinsky calls for the usual alto clarinet in E♭ in the Elegy for J.F.K. They first appeared around 1770. It is sometimes used in bands, small chamber ensembles, and rarely in orchestras. A loop has been added to a new adjustable thumb rest to allow for a neckstrap, and they have removed the ring from the bell to provide a better weight balance and improved resonance. It is very rare that you will hear any of these. [15], The solo repertoire for alto clarinet is quite limited, with much of it consisting of transcriptions of works originally for basset horn. Sawhill, Clarence E. "The Problem of the Alto Clarinet" and, Treatise on Orchestration and Instrumentation. After that, you can determine which other clarinets will suit your individual needs. In the wind band and clarinet choir the alto clarinet can add tonal strength to the ensemble, not only because it can play lower notes, but because some of the most beautiful notes (written C to F) in the upper register of the alto clarinet have the same pitch as the weaker-toned middle-register notes (written F to B♭) of the B♭ soprano clarinet. A few jazz musicians, Hamiet Bluiett, Vinny Golia, J. D. Parran, Petr Kroutil, Joe Lovano and Gianluigi Trovesi among them, have played the alto clarinet. It’s the second most popular clarinet. Despite the broad range, the instrument is always scored in the treble clef. Would it be possible to just put a soprano clarinet mouthpiece and reed on the neck of an alto clarinet and play? The register key on a clarinet raises the note by a twelfth (octave and a fifth). Each clarinet has its own unique sound and, therefore, its own applications. There are diatonic instruments similar to the clarinet, as well as an experimental quarter-tone clarinet. The more you become familiar with each clarinet, the more you’ll become aware of their distinct tonal qualities and applications. soprano and tenor for over 20 years. All-metal alto clarinets also exist. Its predecessor was the chalumeau. It responds evenly throughout the full range,... $2,058.00. The first iteration of the modern day clarinet was invented around the year 1700. There is a notable alto clarinet solo in Percy Grainger's wind-band piece Lincolnshire Posy. It’s used in all styles of music. It is sometimes used in orchestras, bands, and small chamber ensembles. The tenor saxophone is a common instrument for clarinet players to switch to, as it has much in common with the clarinet. What Jaan was saying was it is a personal opinion. With the exception of the octo-contrabass, none of these clarinets are pitched in Bb or Eb. In the late 1940s, there was some discussion over whether the alto clarinet should be eliminated from the standard wind band. In appearance it strongly resembles the basset horn, but usually differs in three respects: it is pitched a whole step lower, it lacks an extended lower range, and it has a wider bore than many basset horns.[1]. That's not an excuse to slack though - it's a chance to truly excel. Bb, Alto, Bass, and Contra Bass. Most modern clarinets are either Bb or Eb transposing instruments. It is a transposing instrument pitched in the key of E♭, though instruments in F have been made. There are many types of clarinets in existence, each exuding its own unique qualities. The alto clarinet is an Eb instrument. The Bb clarinet is pretty soprano-ish compared with alto or tenor sax (tenor is the most often used in rock), and you might look kinda funny :-) playing rock alto clarinet. I would definitely start out with a clarinet first. The clarinet family is comprised of a number of similar instruments. The alto clarinet band part remains in 20th and 21st century wind band literature. Likewise, on an Eb instrument, when you play C, the note sounding is a concert Eb. Most modern clarinets are either Bb or Eb transposing instruments. There is no "tenor" clarinet as such, and while the term "bass clarinet" seems clear enough, its relation to the alto clarinet really places it in the position of the tenor instrument of the clarinet family. This means that, on a Bb instrument, when you play … Call now 877-687-4524 or, © Copyright 2001 - 2021 Musika All Rights Reserved, Types of Trumpets: Keys, Size, History, and Performance Practice, Different Piano Types: An Introduction and Pricing Guide. Shop and save on the Model 7181 Contra-Alto Clarinet at Woodwind & Brasswind. More modern jazz players, such as Bob Mintzer, play the bass clarinet as well. With the flute, there is less to remember with the finger positions and breathing techniques. The bore has been enlarged, and in some cases is the exact same as to be found in the Alto Clarinet, so that in reality, the Basset Horn is now simply and Alto Clarinet in F. Unlike other clarinets, the Basset Horn always possesses a written low C (here sounding F at the bottom of the bass clef). The clarinet produces a mellow, rounded tone, especially in the lower ranges. Albert Rice defines clarinets in G with flared bells, which were produced as early as 1740, as alto clarinets,[7] but this use of the term is uncommon. It is the starting instrument for saxophones, oboes, and most other woodwind instruments. Duke Ellington used the clarinet a bunch. The familiar B♭ and A clarinets, while technically soprano instruments, are not commonly referred to as such outside of academic circles. The range of the alto clarinet is from the concert G2 or G♭2 (in the second octave below middle C, bottom line of the bass clef) to E♭6 (in the second octave above middle C), with the exact upper end of the range depending on the skill of the player.