In order to be able to interpret contemporary music in the right way the bass clarinetist should master many different kinds of special effects and specific techniques. 

A few years ago Henri Bok wrote a book which would deal with all the special techniques and all the specific problems which a bass clarinet specialist of today could encounter in a contemporary music score. This work - entitled "Nouvelles Techniques de la Clarinette Basse/New Techniques for the Bass clarinet" - was published end of 1989. 

At this moment the book is being in revision, a complete re-write actually, which is to be published as soon as it will be finished and a publisher is found. 

Please note: Due to difficulties concerning the development of the new edition of "New Techniques for the Bass Clarinet", the release date of this book has been suspended for a considerable length of time.  

To meet some of the demand for this publication at shorter notice, as well as to serve the long waiting responsive Bass Clarinet enthusiasts, an intermediate edition has been released. 

Content 

Aside from a general introduction the first subject of the book is the notation of the various special effects. 

After an enumeration of all the systems of notation Henri Bok came across in the literature, he proposes for every effect a certain notation which is based on efficiency and logic. 

This introductory part which also deals with the problems of embouchure, reeds and (circular) breathing is followed by the essential part of the work: the special effects. A selection of the subjects: altissimo  register; trills and tremolos; harmonics; micro intervals; multiphonics; vibrato; flutter tongue; glissando; slaptongue; vocal effects. 
  

 

Every effect is illustrated by excerpts of the most important bass clarinet works by composers as Boulez, Dao, Donatoni, Dusapin, Globokar, Miereanu, Xenakis, Yun (to name just a few). 

Playing on the neck : 
Suggested indication :  
  
EX 53 : Vinko Globokar, VOIX Instrumentalisée : 
  
 
The chapter about multiphonics & multiphonic trills/tremolos is also very interesting for composers: they can choose from 112 different multiphonics and 62 multiphonic trills/tremolos (and since the publication of the book Henri Bok found many more!). All these multiphonics have been recorded on cassette which contains also all the examples quoted in the book.