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In what musical ensembles can you find a contra-alto clarinet?
I’ve been wanting to play it in our school band if I can find one. It seems like an interesting instrument. I already play the Eb alto clarinet and now I want to switch to the EEb contra-alto clarinet. It’s just one octave lower, so it shouldn’t be a huge problem. Plus, it has a rich, deep sound that works well with the bassoon and bari sax and easy to transpose. I already know the low notes of the contra-alto are the best and most distinguished.
The EEb Contralto will be found most commonly in the wind ensemble. Next will be studio/pit orchestra (such as for films and theatrical performances) for the special effect and because it can double a bassoon part at sight without the need to put an expensive bassoon in the pit.
It’s an integral part of the clarinet choir and often is the lowest member of that ensemble. It’s occasionally (not very often at all) called for in orchestral music so there won’t be a seat for it but it is a utility (we’ll call you when needed) seat. There’s a growing solo repertoire as well. http://www.contrabassclarinet.org/page2.html [note: the contralto is sometimes called the EEb Contrabass.]
Most players that want to play for a living (or even serious hobby) are doublers on other large instruments and include bass clarinet, bari/bass sax, contra-clarinets, bass recorder, bass flute, etc… in their offerings.
Alto is becoming increasing rare to find a good player of and it too has a recurring role in the wind ensemble but most important – it has a role in orchestra in the basset horn incarnation. While a basset horn has a range to low C and is in F, you only lose that low C if you play the part on an Eb alto because the alto is a step lower than basset and has an existing range to written Eb. [note: a true basset horn has a smaller bore and uses a soprano mouthpiece but most modern makers make an F alto clarinet with a C extension and call it a basset horn.]
You might also want to add bass clarinet to your list of players – there’s a much greater demand for bass clarinet than there is for alto and contra combined. A player that can play multiple instruments in the group (clarinet, sax, flute, etc…) is referred to as a Woodwind Specialist. A player of all of the big clarinets from alto downward is called a Harmony Clarinetist. You’ll find that moving from one to the other down there is no real big deal – they are essentially all the same just gradually larger.