My wife and I have joined a fledgling clarinet choir that has met a couple of times. I’m approaching the end of my first year on clarinet. In my first year of owning a clarinet I’ve only practiced about a month’s worth of time though. So I’ve been playing the bass clarinet.
But alas, my Leblanc Paris bass clarinet is still in the shop for a complete overhaul. The tech found a repaired crack that is leaking so he has to rout out the fix and replace it with a better fix. So I was using a rental SML beastie that is very difficult to get to speak. Fortunately most of the chalumeau range, or lower notes for you neophytes, are okay.
So I was really enjoying the ensemble work, working on the intonation and the timing. There were four of us there, but we look forward to a fifth joining us next week. Two others have promised to join us but have yet to show up. It will be interesting to see how this group progresses and I get some practice to boot.
Play on.





Beware. The bass clarinet can be a harsh task mistress. :o)