Alto clarinet demo

[Eugene]

I put up another video on Woodwind Wizard page on youtube.Im also on Facebook and social media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFYLwgV5MdA

[windydankoff]

Thanks Gene! That's a good sounding demonstration of the BIGMouthPiece!

[Eugene]

Listening while playing and listening to the recording is so much a different perception of the sound timbre .I prefer a darker richer  sound so  on the next recording I will use a cane reed.

[Eugene]

Thinking of starting a new youtube channel ....Altonet Geeks  Unite.....what you think?

[windydankoff]

"Alto Clarinet Geeks" is better, because just "alto" is assumed to be sax, or singers.

[lydian]

Nice playing, but definitely some uneven intonation, especially in the mid chalumeau. I guess because the different geometry of a sax mouthpiece vs. a clarinet mouthpiece. Nice, big tone though. It has potential if you can eventually get the dimensions right.

[Eugene]

Lydian, from previous experience you really have to hit the wood shed every day  with this mpc to get the best out of it. I didn't  so it is what it is. I have done it in the past but not for this demo .Once you learn the quarks of your notes and mouthpiece you can learn when they need more or less tension or air to speak properly but like I said it takes time for perfection.

[windydankoff]

Also, Gene is using an early prototype of the BIGMouthPiece – I'll be sending him the 2025 version soon  :-)

You can hear one on Dark Sanctuary, by Luke Pickman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iPnCwHYNxE 
It's visible at 2:00

[LarryS]

Sounds good. Now why is the alto considered the 'black sheep' of the cl. family?
And what's the BigMouth mpc?

[windydankoff]

Larry - The alto clarinet is sized between the standard B♭ clarinet and bass clarinet.  Considered a weak instrument, it was dropped from most school band programs in the 70s and 80s.  But the horn is not at fault. The real weakness is the traditional mouthpiece design, sized for an alto sax reed. BIGMouthPiece is an alternative mouthpiece that uses tenor or bass clarinet reed instead, and has a larger air input.  It's easier-blowing, with a stronger, deeper tone.

The story began on this forum at:  https://clarinetpages.info/smf/index.php/topic,2242.0.html

For the current update, go to: https://www.windydankoff.com/alto-clarinet-mouthpiece.html