John Howell wrote:
>Better? [alto clarinet vs basset horn] Or just different? And of course the matter of low range, although the extension to low C >would take care of that. I suspect that very few band directors assign their best players to alto clarinets, and like every member >of the family it is an individual instrument and has to be learned and mastered on its own terms.
Just listen to them, side-by-side.
And contra means against, not double. And alto means "high" or "above," of course! The original "Contratenor altus" means "against the tenor - above." This begat "contralto", which begat "alto" Now "contra-alto" means "double alto?" Nonsensical!
At least "Contratenor bassus" which became "contrabass" means "against the tenor - below," but everyone thinks it means "doublebass. " Ask the third bassoonist what instument he plays! ("I play contra." "Against whom?")
I know I am starting to sound ridiculous, but goodness, the "contra-alto" clarinet is just carrying this silliness too far.
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