Really useful resource on the Alto Clarinet! You've well and truly convinced me to give the instrument a go (and keep in mind that I'm an Oboist and a Baritone Hornist - not a single reed player in any way, shape, or form). If anyone's looking to get a floor peg installed, btw, I'd suggest contacting Jared De Leon in Connecticut, as he only charges $125 (USD) to do the floor peg - floor peg is at his expense, shipping is at yours, and he's able to do international business
Thanks ! Great speak and great playing ! I play Alto clarinet since... 14 months, after 3 years on B flat soprano clarinet. I never came back to my B flat, until now. I miss lower notes when I'm on the soprano ; Alto is the last clarinet in the "low" register with open tone holes wich I do prefer to closed tone holes ; it's lighter and easier to carry than a Bass clarinet ; you can easily found a synthetic body Alto at fair price, more sturdy than the wooden ones to play jams in streets or pubs (I have a Buescher/Bundy by Selmer US Alto from the late '60s, but it sounds good with my very good Selmer "Paris" C* mouthpiece). I don't know if I'm trapped or doomed, but I'm happy with it.
I love my alto clarinet. I also have a LeBlanc Noblet. You are absolutely right about putting a floor peg on the instrument. Playing with the neck strap really puts the instrument in an uncomfortable and instead position particularly with the right hand. Wish the link was here for the recital 😢 but still this was a great video. Thanks for sharing!
I am one of 2 alto players in a 100 plus member community band. We have about 20 b flat clarinets a 5 bass clarinets. But we altos make ourselves heard. Don't badmouth the Bundy!. I play a Bundy and with maintenance and a good mouthpiece it plays very well. Thanks for this video which promotes a neglected instrument.
Oh, piece of advice for anyone outside of the USA who wants to give the Alto Clarinet a go: pay for international shipping, and buy a used instrument from the USA. I know that neither of the two biggest music stores in Australia (Sax & Woodwind, Ozwinds) sell an Alto Clarinet that retails for less than $9000 - as Bret & Matthew showed, spending a tenth of that is more than enough
My alto was bought in a pawnbrokers in Australia. I THINK it's a Bundy. Hated it until I bought a good mouthpiece and fitted a peg (horrible ergonomics on a strap). Lent it to a friend who used it professionally until his was repaired. Getting to love it, though I mainly use a bass.
Greetings from Ukraine! Thank you for such informative and entertaining video! Also, for mentioning Vandoren B44 mouthpiece and especially David Hite which I was not even aware of.
Good, informative talk! I wonder why band directors choose to put what is considered the worst player on alto or bass clarinet and expecting things to work out.
We do recruit a fair number of euphonists that way. Fortunately, the exiled trumpeter or trombonist usually falls in love with the new instrument and we get to add a new cult member.
Not about the Alto, but About the high Eb, you can use Bb clarinet reeds on it. Far easier in my opinion. And if you already have a legere for it boom you just saved a TON of money. Have a great day, Sincerely Instrument Guy
Tenor Saxophone is the most neglected instrument that's still in the standard wind band. I've heard Tenor players complain about how their part doesn't feel important, since most of the time they're doubling the Euphoniums, or Trombones, or Altos, or Clarinets, or some other part. I honestly think it wouldn't be terrible to ask the Tenor Sax player to switch to a different, more useful Saxophone. Maybe Soprano, or Bass, or just another Alto.
A shame really as the tenor is the original saxophone. Unfortunately it is the failed bass clarinet (yes, those two instruments were patented simultaneously by Adolf Sax, same size, same reed, same shape, same key!)
I have owned noblet and selmer and prefer my older Leblanc alto clarinet with the tenor sax style neck. It feels much more comfortable to play. I play all clar, sax and flutes so my airstream is pretty strong so I dont need a straightened out neck.
FINALLY, I am no longer the only only multi instrumentalist in the chat. I can play trombone, trumpet, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, baritone (both normal and marching), flute, piccolo, Bb clarinet, Alto clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, piano, marimba, glockenspiel, xylophone, vibraphone, snare, bass drum, drum set, and almost any accessories that are in a band/orchestra.
I preferred the first one.. probably because I play bass clarinet. I have a huge prejudice against Alto clarinet.. but this sounds pretty good I guess 😂
As a composor, I'm glad to see other composors also writing for it today (and by doing so fighting to keep it alive)
Thank you for doing this talk! This kind of information needs to be out there on this more deserving instruments.
Really useful resource on the Alto Clarinet! You've well and truly convinced me to give the instrument a go (and keep in mind that I'm an Oboist and a Baritone Hornist - not a single reed player in any way, shape, or form).
If anyone's looking to get a floor peg installed, btw, I'd suggest contacting Jared De Leon in Connecticut, as he only charges $125 (USD) to do the floor peg - floor peg is at his expense, shipping is at yours, and he's able to do international business
Thanks ! Great speak and great playing ! I play Alto clarinet since... 14 months, after 3 years on B flat soprano clarinet. I never came back to my B flat, until now. I miss lower notes when I'm on the soprano ; Alto is the last clarinet in the "low" register with open tone holes wich I do prefer to closed tone holes ; it's lighter and easier to carry than a Bass clarinet ; you can easily found a synthetic body Alto at fair price, more sturdy than the wooden ones to play jams in streets or pubs (I have a Buescher/Bundy by Selmer US Alto from the late '60s, but it sounds good with my very good Selmer "Paris" C* mouthpiece). I don't know if I'm trapped or doomed, but I'm happy with it.
Wow, very nice! My brother played alto clarinet in my high school band when we did Lincolnshire Posy, and I really do enjoy the sound. Nice!
People said nobody likes it and never wrote it in a decade. This video proved the myths wrong
I love my alto clarinet. I also have a LeBlanc Noblet. You are absolutely right about putting a floor peg on the instrument. Playing with the neck strap really puts the instrument in an uncomfortable and instead position particularly with the right hand. Wish the link was here for the recital 😢 but still this was a great video. Thanks for sharing!
I am one of 2 alto players in a 100 plus member community band. We have about 20 b flat clarinets a 5 bass clarinets. But we altos make ourselves heard. Don't badmouth the Bundy!. I play a Bundy and with maintenance and a good mouthpiece it plays very well. Thanks for this video which promotes a neglected instrument.
A Bundy was my introduction to the alto clarinet, in my junior high school band. I enjoyed it!
my bundy alto plays very well with a good mpc also
i agree with a vandoren b44 my bundy alto sings!
I have a bundy alto clarinet is it the same fingerings as a regular clarinet? Because every time I try to google a fingering chart nothing pops up…
I play contra alto clarinet lol
Oh, piece of advice for anyone outside of the USA who wants to give the Alto Clarinet a go: pay for international shipping, and buy a used instrument from the USA. I know that neither of the two biggest music stores in Australia (Sax & Woodwind, Ozwinds) sell an Alto Clarinet that retails for less than $9000 - as Bret & Matthew showed, spending a tenth of that is more than enough
My alto was bought in a pawnbrokers in Australia. I THINK it's a Bundy. Hated it until I bought a good mouthpiece and fitted a peg (horrible ergonomics on a strap). Lent it to a friend who used it professionally until his was repaired.
Getting to love it, though I mainly use a bass.
This is informative, and entertaining. Great job.
I did see one in my high school band. The girl using it played it during the concert season, but alto sax in the marching band.
Thanks, a proud alto player from the netherlands.
Greetings from Ukraine! Thank you for such informative and entertaining video! Also, for mentioning Vandoren B44 mouthpiece and especially David Hite which I was not even aware of.
i recently bought a mint condition noblet alto clar for 350$. i love it . my bundy pails in comparison
Good, informative talk! I wonder why band directors choose to put what is considered the worst player on alto or bass clarinet and expecting things to work out.
We do recruit a fair number of euphonists that way. Fortunately, the exiled trumpeter or trombonist usually falls in love with the new instrument and we get to add a new cult member.
@@johnries5593 that is how I got to play Baritone. But it doesn’t excuse how these instruments aren’t staffed well.
🙏🙏🙏 Praise our Lord Alto Clarinet 🙏🙏🙏
pukalo [CDN] I see you everywhere
@@djhfuctbgjo4741 Where have you seen me before?
@@pukalo earspasm music is one place
adding a floor peg is a game changer.
Absolutely - the neck strap is unbalanced.
Ingolf Dahl's "Sinfonietta" also has an important part for the alto clarinet in the second movement.
I thought Mozart composed the concerto for a Bassett Clarinet in A? That was a standard A Clarinet but with extensions down to a written low C?
Not about the Alto, but About the high Eb, you can use Bb clarinet reeds on it. Far easier in my opinion. And if you already have a legere for it boom you just saved a TON of money. Have a great day,
Sincerely
Instrument Guy
Tenor Saxophone is the most neglected instrument that's still in the standard wind band. I've heard Tenor players complain about how their part doesn't feel important, since most of the time they're doubling the Euphoniums, or Trombones, or Altos, or Clarinets, or some other part. I honestly think it wouldn't be terrible to ask the Tenor Sax player to switch to a different, more useful Saxophone. Maybe Soprano, or Bass, or just another Alto.
i agree tenor sax parts suck in concert band
A shame really as the tenor is the original saxophone. Unfortunately it is the failed bass clarinet (yes, those two instruments were patented simultaneously by Adolf Sax, same size, same reed, same shape, same key!)
Sax is a 20th century instrument. If admitted in symphonic orchestras must be hidden behind those horns
@@super20dan in jazz it is the king, a confortable instrument because tuned in Bb and played in the higher octaves as it were an alto
@@rashakoralto clarinet fits tenor sax reeds, bass clarinet fits bari sax reed
I'm actually impressed with my self that I nailed the first one being a bass. It sounded bigger and much more full. The also sounded thin.
Hey Bret, do you still have a copy of that pamphlet that you keep referencing? Cheers
I have owned noblet and selmer and prefer my older Leblanc alto clarinet with the tenor sax style neck. It feels much more comfortable to play. I play all clar, sax and flutes so my airstream is pretty strong so I dont need a straightened out neck.
What was the name of the crystal alto clarinet mouthpiece?
POMARICO !!! A must have for classical music
Very interesting, thanks!!!
I really want to play alto clarinet
I feel like it calls me.
By the way I play flute and trombone
FINALLY, I am no longer the only only multi instrumentalist in the chat. I can play trombone, trumpet, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, baritone (both normal and marching), flute, piccolo, Bb clarinet, Alto clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, piano, marimba, glockenspiel, xylophone, vibraphone, snare, bass drum, drum set, and almost any accessories that are in a band/orchestra.
I'm also a composer. I compose for my high school bands.
0:39 "oh ma gawd"
why does alto clarone and oboe be so much more expensive than a saxophone?
Seasoned very very fine ebony wood, more complex keys, silver finish... anyway a Selmer mark iii tenor sax can cost even $ 12,000
is this a newman reference?
If only i could afford one.....
I'd buy it for you if I thought you were dedicated.
You sound like Adam conover
I preferred the first one.. probably because I play bass clarinet. I have a huge prejudice against Alto clarinet.. but this sounds pretty good I guess 😂
I play contra alto clarinet, but I have to say the alto clarinet should be extinct