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Thanks Marco, that means a lot to hear. The instrument has a lot of potential and hopefully this video displays some of it.

Thank you very much Marco!

Thanks very much! When I’m preparing a performance on Ab clarinet it takes a lot of time. It’s difficult to play but can sound really beautiful!

Why don’t you try turning up the volume?

It’s being played in sounding G major, which corresponds to Mozart’s KV621b manuscript. Because the clarinet is a transposing instrument, the solo part is always performed (i.e. fingered) in C major, regardless if it’s a clarinet in A, a basset clarinet in A or a basset horn in G.

@RichardElliotHaynes.clarinet thank you! That's the opposite of what flute players do (say, with Db and C piccolos) so I wasn't sure, but then again, there was that manuscript haha

Thanks Sam!

There isn’t an incredible advantage in terms of pitch although it can play about a fourth higher than the Eb clarinet. The main „advantage“ as you put it, is it’s sound: being considerably smaller than the Eb (and D) clarinets, its sound is equally unique. Bartok, Henze and Hespos have written for it, as well as many composers of wind orchestra repertoire. I have already commissioned a few new pieces for it. It has exactly the same range as a flute C4 to Eb7 (depending on instrument and ability) and can therefore be a valued member of a chamber ensemble. It’s difficult to play. Take a look at my Telemann Fantasia No. 1 video for more Ab clarinet, perhaps this will convince you of the instrument’s value.

A basset horn in G is closer in pitch to the standard clarinet.

You’re very welcome!

Many thanks TJ!

Yes, actually I am.

It’s a clarinet d’amore in G, as per the video description. :-)

Thank you! It’s made of mopani. Clarinets are made these days from a variety of woods such as grenadilla, cocobolo, mopani and boxwood.

Thanks! The instrument most certainly welcomes new works!

@@RichardElliotHaynes.clarinet I‘m really interested in, since I listened to the first video, you posted. Let‘s see, if inspiration will work…

Thanks! The instrument‘s made by Seggelke Clarinets, the gold neck by Das Blashaus.

It will be released once it’s finished. :-)

Thank you!

Danke! Ja kommt drauf an, mit wem er damals im Kontakt war. Es waren bekanntlich oftmals die Klarinettist:innen, die das Zielinstrument vorschlugen…

Thanks Trevor! If you want to talk about setup shoot me an email, happy to discuss.

Thanks Phil!

🙏🏼

Lots of long tones and tonguing practice helps but it won't happen overnight. Consistency and regular practice will. Find a setup that works for you: everyone is different. Bear in mind that bass clarinet keywork can be notoriously out of alignment and so make sure that whatever instrument you are playing is well maintained.

What exactly do you mean by a “higher key note”?

Hi and thanks for your comment. This excerpt is played on a clarinet in A, pitched a semitone below the clarinet in B-flat.

Many thanks! Check out the Telemann Fantasia No. 4 for more on clarinet in A.

Interesting!

Merci beaucoup!

Thanks! It’s an original Leblanc Ab piccolo clarinet with Seggelke barrel and bell. The instrument was completely overhauled after I bought it. I also spent many months actually practicing long tones and etudes: the instrument can be really beautiful when played with care.

It’s an original Leblanc but with major keywork improvements and heavy gold neck.

Ah! That explains my confusion. The left hand c/g key looks like the ones you'd find on a Buffet, but the trill keys were throwing me off

The Buffet basset horn has an open hole key for R1 (Bb/F) and the usual small altissimo vent for L1. My instrument has open hole keys for L2, L3 and R3.

Hi! Yes, there’s a video on my channel in which I talk about the instrument and a work for clarinet d’amore and ensemble titled “être” by Sachie Kobayashi. More videos of Telemann played in clarinet d’amore are coming this year.

Hi and thanks! Happy to talk about setup via email, please contact me directly.

Yes this excerpt is played on clarinet in A.

Thanks! Practice long tones, slow scales & arpeggios to build your sound.

In order to do what exactly?

Free the reed.

How do you mean "free the reed"? The top lip would be resting on the reed, if the mouthpiece was turned around.

I didn’t know there was a marching band version of this piece!

@@RichardElliotHaynes.clarinet I don't know if there are any recordings of it anywhere online, but if there are, it's the Earl Warren Warriors (San Antonio Texas) from either 2017, 2018, or 2019

Thanks!

​@RichardHaynes.clarinet it was 2018 btw if u couldn't find it, called primitive mysteries. 3rd movement

Thanks very much!

Thanks for your comment! It’s a Selmer, but the Privilege model, to low C. All professional standard bass clarinets are built to low C.

Just keep practicing: you can play any clarinet etude on bass clarinet!

Hey thanks, I don’t really feel qualified to offer advice on working out… I mainly just go with my instincts and a wide variety of types of weights.

Thanks! Most certainly, the Ab clarinet is not an instrument that you just unbox and play well. My credo is treating each and every clarinet as a valuable instrument in its own right and not just as something exotic or even absurd. Just like every instrument, it takes a lot of time to work out certain fingerings and intonation; even just making a good sound is tricky, made in part all the more difficult but the fact that it’s so small. Glad you liked the video!

No, clarinet d’amore in G.

@@RichardElliotHaynes.clarinet yes sol is G sorry i no english

No problem, yes clarinette en sol / clarinetto in sol

Correct.

Thanks Scott! An etude a day keeps mediocrity at bay. Possibly.