Well, I've taken the plunge and bought a bass clarinet. It's a real new toy at the moment, much to my hamster's (previous new toy) disgust. I've only had it a couple of days, but love it already!

Are there any other bass clarinettists out there? If so, can you pass on any helpful hints, or share your views on really great pieces to play? I'm happy to find all of this out by myself, but if I can learn from anyone else's experiences or mistakes, I will.

Husband was in trouble when it arrived - I assembled it, and played a few notes and scales, to which all he could say was. "it can't be all that difficult then".

QUOTE (Deborah @ Dec 20 2004, 11:35 AM)

Are there any other bass clarinettists out there? If so, can you pass on any helpful hints, or share your views on really great pieces to play?

I'm not a clarinettist, but I know quite a bit of the wind chamber repertoire. The best works I know with important bass clarinet parts are Janacek's Wind Sextet "Mladi" ("The best wind music not written by Mozart") and The Rite of Spring (needs two!). Another good wind-only work is Graham Sheen's arrangement of the Brahms' Variations on a Theme of Handel.

Hia.

I was a bass clarinettist until a few months ago. The bass clarinet is a wicked instrument! You will have so much fun with it.

Hints and tips:

1. Relax your muscles before you begin to play to prevent yourself from getting any muscle damage. This would be my golden rule, because part of the reason that I had to give up was because of muscle damage. I ignored this point when I was told it and it totally screwed me up.

2. Relax your embouchure as though you are playing a sax, you will get a far better tone.

3. Don't play when you have a sore throat, it makes it worse!

You'll be in demand for orchestral work , Mahler and Bruckner make frequent use of the bass clarinet.

Get hold of the Lord of the Rings music. It has a part in it that shows up the bass clarinet to it's full advantage. This bit is hard to get right, but it sounds great!

I love my bass. which make/model did you get? when i first played i got terrible crick in my neck. i found that standing it between my legs was extremely awkward. i now hang it round my neck like a sax, its much easier and produces a better sound

how do you find the upper octave? i have problems crosing the break. and OMG aren't the reeds expensive!!!???!!!

make sure you buy a silver cloth for the bell and neck.

let me know how you get on.
Sam

I used to love my bass, until I had to give it up. I agree with Sam's advice, get a silver cloth for the bell and neck, but not one which contains Silvo, as as I have said before it dissolves the silver of an instrument!

I used to think the bass clarinet at college was broken until my teacher gave me some lessons. I'd recommend standing it on the floor as you really have to pull down on the mouthpiece to get the notes above the break. Experiment with the height tho - sometimes its good not to have the mouthpiece exactly at mouth level... if you get me...

The mozart divertimento for three clarinets is really nice if you put the bottom part on the bass - lots of arpeggios!!!

My teacher says bass is really good for your normal clarinet technique - and she should know!!!

enjoy!