Klarinet Archive - Posting 000077.txt from 1993/12

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Ron Monson's comments about Strauss
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 22:41:12 -0500

Ron, the Elektra (which I played several seasons ago with the
San Francisco Opera) calls for 1 E-flat/D clarinet, 2 B-flats, 2
A-s (and played by 4 players), 2 basset horns, and a bass clarinet
in B-flat only.

The story about Strauss insisting that the players use exactly
the instruments requested is true. He wanted a palette of
colors painted precisely the way he requested it and refused
to allow the clarinetists to make arbitrary substitutions of
one clarinet for another.

Another interesting Strauss work is the Happy Workshop. It calls
for 5 clarinet players: 1 on C, 2 on B-flat, 1 basset horn, and
1 Bb bass clar. The follow up work, called the Invalid's Workshop,
calls for 1 C, 2 A-s, 1 basset horn, and 1 bass clarinet in A.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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