[soybean]

Has anyone ever made a clarinet with a conical bore? I realize this wouldn't really be a clarinet any longer, but more like a cross between a clarinet and soprano sax, but with a true octave key. If so, it would be a great doubler's horn.

 

[Carl H.]

But it wouldn't be a double anymore. Clarinets go to low E or Eb, saxes only go to Bb or rarely A. A clarinet is a unique instrument which makes it a true double. Alto and soprano saxes aren't really doubling and this hybrid instrument would fall in the cracks, but be closer to a soprano sax, which already exists.

 

[Tharruff]

You mean to look kinda like this ?

View attachment 3566

 

[daigle65]

Check out the Tarogato
http://hungaria.org/hal/folklor/tarogato/
It's basically a wood soprano sax, it's conical bore so it octaves.
The keys are similar to an Albert system clarinet.
I saw Joe Lovano play one 2 years ago.

 

[daigle65]

You mean to look kinda like this ?

View attachment 3566

That's a Tarogato.

 

[Tharruff]

Yes, I know...

 

[stevesklar]

and of course, where can we get one ?

 

[retread]

Stephen Fox makes them. CAN$2600 for the basic model.

 

[tictactux]

Stephen Fox makes them. CAN$2600 for the basic model.

Where do the Hungarians get theirs?

 

[hakukani]

I thought the cylindrical bore of a clarinet made the timbre of the clarinet (with the emphasis on odd numbered harmonics aka square of pulse waves) what it is

 

[tictactux]

I thought the cylindrical bore of a clarinet made the timbre of the clarinet (with the emphasis on odd numbered harmonics aka square of pulse waves) what it is

Yeah. A Tarogato is like a wooden Soprano Sax (if you forgive me that crude comparison). They're simply different instruments. What would a Sax with a cylindrical bore sound like? Yes, just like my Swiss Army clarinet.

 

[Gandalfe]

I'm not sure it'd be nice, but it most certainly would be interesting to hear what this instrument sounds like.

 

[daigle65]

I'm not sure it'd be nice, but it most certainly would be interesting to hear what this instrument sounds like.

 

[monzamess]

Wikipedia says "...the soprano tárogató in B♭ ... has a mournful sound similar to a cross between an English horn and a soprano saxophone." What DOES a mournful duck sound like?

 

[hakukani]

Yeah. A Tarogato is like a wooden Soprano Sax (if you forgive me that crude comparison). They're simply different instruments. What would a Sax with a cylindrical bore sound like? Yes, just like my Swiss Army clarinet.

Does your Swiss Army Clarinet have a corkscrew? Just curious....

 

[Gandalfe]

Hmm... all I can think of to say after listening to this (sorry I didn't make it through the whole thing) is negative. Don't think I'll be picking one of these up anytime soon. Thanks for the pointer.

 

[tictactux]

Does your Swiss Army Clarinet have a corkscrew? Just curious....

Find out yourself...

 

[QueenB]

What DOES a mournful duck sound like?

Wow, I guess we know now. I think my curiosity ended with this thread!

It might make a nice lamp.

 

[dirty]

If you want to hear a Tarogato played beautifully, check out Charles Lloyd's Tarogato playing on his album "Sangam" with Eric Harland and Zakir Hussain. He makes it sound (to my ear) most like a very, very dark soprano sax.

 

[clarnibass]

I think there are some Tarogato makers in Europe, and some players there play old ones possibly. A friend of mine once told me there is a clarinetist I need to hear, she put on the CD, and it didn't sound like a clarinet. I looked and it was a tarogato, and the playing was excellent (some folk music). I'll ask what the name of the player is.