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Anne Clark - Teacher, Specialist on Alto Clarinet
Over 30 years experience of teaching Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, Piano and Theory, from beginners to diploma standard.
Anne Clark - Examiner and Festival Adjudicator
Anne is a Grades and Diploma Examiner for Trinity College London. She has examined throughout the Uk, and has also worked in Portugal, Malta, Dubai, India, Malaysia and Thailand. Anne has worked as a Saxophone syllabus advisor, and has also been involved in trainee examiner supervision.
Anne Clark - Performer
Anne plays Alto Clarinet with the British Clarinet Ensemble, and has played with the ensemble in the UK, Europe and Japan. She also undertakes depping work with local East Anglian orchestras and ensembles. Anne plays all members of the Clarinet and Saxophone families.
Anne Clark - Teacher
Anne is now available for online lessons.
Alto Clarinet Resources.
Alto Clarinet: The Endangered Species of the American Band Mark Wolbers, University of Alaska
Essential reading for all Alto Players
Alto Clarinet Repertoire 2021
Bennet, David Clarinet Rhapsody Carl Fischer Inc (1937) 2/A/B
D’Harcourt arr. Bennett Peruvian Inca Melodies Colombo 1270 (1942) 2/A/B
Gipps, Ruth A Wealden Suite (1991) Emerson Eb/Bb/A?/B
Gourhand, Yves Tessa G Billaudot (2005) 2/A/B
Gray, Emily Triumphant March Emily Gray (2016) Eb/Bb/A/B
Gray, Emily Little Concerto for Alto+Cl Choir Emily Gray (2008) Alt solo & Clar Choir
Grundman, Clare Caprice Boosey & Hawkes (1961) 2/A/B
Hurrell, Clarence E Galway Pipers Rubank (1968) 2/A/B
Mahler, G arr Leonard In Praise of Lofty Intellect Presser 114-40122(1968) 2/A/B
Manchini ar Christensen The Pink Panther Kendor 6090 (1983) 2/A/B
Nowak, Jerry Jamaica Farewell Musicians Publications (1992) 2/A/B
Nowak, Jerry Marianne Musicians Pubs (1992) 2/A/B
Ostling, Acton Pop ! Goes the Woodwinds First Division Pub Corp (1964) 2/A/B
Sharma, Liz Rhapsody, Romance & Scherzo Liz Sharma (2019) 2 Alt solos&Cl Choir
Shewan, Douglas Romantic Interlude (unpublished) 2/A/B
Smith, T Stuart Suite C L Barnhouse Pubs 111-0064-08 3/A
Tchaikovsky, P Andante Cantabile Belwin Ens 93 (1938) 2/A/B
Thompson Five Portraits Thompson 47536c (1977) 2/A/B
Wiberny, Heiner Confidence Advance Music (1994) 2/A/Bout you on social media? Share their great stories to help turn potential customers into loyal ones.
Many Thanks to Colin Bridge for the following resources
Alto Notes
The alto clarinet is less common than the smaller, more familiar standard soprano clarinet. Its deep sound is not as frequently heard in high school and college bands. Some artists and composers find the rich, mellow tones of the alto clarinet pleasing and work to keep this instrument alive and familiar. Composers such as Leon Dallin, Alfred Reed and George Schwartz wrote music specifically for a duet of a piano and an alto clarinet. The performing artist J.D. Parran used one as his main instrument for 20 years in all of his musical performances, helping to introduce countless people to it.
You can get older Selmers on eBay for decent prices. Look for the Series 9, which was probably the best alto ever made.
Watch out for old Leblancs as chances are they may have knackered bells and split tenons. Not that they're unrepairable, it just adds to the hassle and prolongs restoration.
I found a Yamaha alto on eBay and while it was relatively expensive in comparison to used Leblancs (it was £1500 which is somewhere around $2500) it is a great instrument but will need a repad as it was repadded fairly recently with sticky pads before I bought it.
If you just want a cheap alto to mess around with I'd suggest looking for a Vito as these use a completely closed-hole design similar to bass clarinets, making them a bit easier to play. You should be able to find one for <$200 on the auction site but be aware that it will likely need pads.
I've got all the alto's mentioned so far (except a french Selmer, out of my price range) plus several Kohlerts. The Bundy is a good starter, built like a tank, but the open holes require medium to large hands.
I like the Leblanc and Noblet grenadilla models, and the Kohlerts. Throat area cracks are common in alto's, but are ok (stable)when properly repaired.
My current favorite is a lovely silver-plated metal Kohlert, that I can take to outdoor camping and 'rendezvous' events. It cost $500+ though. Wood Noblets and Leblancs can be had for $300-400 depending on condition. The Selmers I've seen go for more like $500-900.
1. Introduction
Since the alto clarinet is something of a rare instrument these days, there is not much information out there on how to write music for it. I’m an alto clarinetist and a composer/music arranger, and I’ve decided to write this guide on how to compose music for the alto clarinet. I hope you will find it useful.
2. Range
Theoretically, the alto clarinet has about the same written range as the other clarinets. The alto also has a key for a written low E-flat, beneath the low E that is the lowest note on a B-flat clarinet.
The alto clarinet’s lowest sounding note is the G-flat on the bottom of the bass staff. The upper range limit depends on the abilities of the player and the condition of the instrument. I’d say a safe upper limit/highest note would be the B-flat above middle C (sounding note), but feel free to write higher if you know you’re writing for a good player.
3. Transposition
The alto clarinet is in the key of E-flat and is a transposing instrument.
The transposition for the alto clarinet is the same as for the alto saxophone. It sounds a major sixth lower than written, so write the notes a major sixth higher than they sound.
If writing or arranging tonal music in a specific key, add 3 sharps or subtract 3 flats from the key signature.
4. Registers
Although many alto clarinet parts will stick to the lower registers, the other registers can be useful too.
Chalumeau register: Sounds somewhat similar to the bass clarinet or the low notes of the B-flat clarinet. Many consider this to be the alto clarinet’s best, most characteristic register.
Throat register: As in other clarinets, these notes can sound pale or weak, but a good player should be able to compensate.
Clarino register: This register can be beautifully expressive, and sound almost saxophone-like.
Altissimo register: Can be expressive, but may also sound shrill. Fingerings here can be difficult, so try not to over-use this register.
Click here for a video demonstration of the alto clarinet’s different registers.
5. What to Write for the Alto Clarinet
In a band or clarinet choir, the alto clarinet is generally used for filler harmonies or accompaniment figures, and can manage some bass lines, as long as the bass lines fit its range. Solos are rare, but can be effective, given a good instrument and a good player. As the alto clarinet is not a very loud instrument, solos must have a light background.
6. When to Write for the Alto Clarinet
Wind band pieces may or may not include parts for the alto clarinet. Smaller and less professional wind bands rarely have alto clarinets. Alto clarinets are extremely rare in orchestras, the basset horn being more popular for this use. The alto clarinet is almost always used in the clarinet choir. There exist a few compositions and arrangements for alto clarinet and piano, a combination that works well and has much potential. It is also possible to use the alto clarinet in some chamber music - trios made of two B-flat clarinets and alto can work well.
7. Some Additional Tips on Writing for the Alto Clarinet
Staccato notes in the higher registers may be difficult to produce on some instruments.
If writing for the alto clarinet in a wind band piece, it may be best to cue any non-doubled alto clarinet parts in other instruments in case the band playing the music doesn’t have an alto clarinet.
The alto clarinet is capable of a large dynamic range, but isn’t generally a loud, piercing instrument, and may not project as well as the higher clarinets. To make sure that the alto clarinet can be heard, the background music must not be too loud and heavy.
Don’t be afraid to use the alto clarinet’s clarino register, especially in solo passages - this register is often overlooked, but can sound unique and beautiful.
8. Conclusion
I hope this guide is useful, and that maybe it’ll inspire the creation of more music for the alto clarinet.
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I wrote and performed this concerto for alto clarinet and clarinet choir. Recorded in March 2008.
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My drawing, called The Alto Clarinet Player.
Running a holiday sale or weekly special? Definitely promote it here to get customers excited about getting a sweet deal.
What is an alto clarinet?
In terms of size, the alto clarinet lies between the soprano clarinet and the bass clarinet. Its appearance is more reminiscent of the latter than the former. it is typically made from wood, ABS plastic, along with a curved neck and a bell made of metal. The alto clarinet is very similar in appearance to the modern basset horn, although there are several vital differences. Not only is an alto clarinet typically pitched a tone lower, but it also doesn't have the basset horn's extended lower range, or as narrow a bore as many basset horns have. You may be especially interested in an Eb alto clarinet for use in a harmony band or symphonic band. It's much rarer to see such an alto clarinet in a classical symphony orchestra. However, Hector Berlioz was an admirer of the alto clarinet, describing it as "a very beautiful instrument which ought to take its place in all well-established orchestras."
A short history of the alto clarinet
The development of the alto clarinet is closely tied to the basset horn. Indeed, Joseph Fröhlich wrote in 1817 that Ivan Müller "created the alto clarinet from the basset horn. His service in this regard is to have removed the unnecessary bass notes of the basset horn, thereby ridding the instrument of the dull, covered sounds it made, and by this means gaining an instrument capable of great power." By the early 19th century, alto clarinets were regarded as an improvement on the early basset horn. While Müller is widely credited as having invented the alto clarinet in collaboration with Heinrich Grenser, and was performing on a 16-key alto clarinet in F by 1809, alto clarinets pitched in G arguably existed as far back as 1740.ou opened a new location, redesigned your shop, or added a new product or service? Don't keep it to yourself, let folks know.