Klarinet Archive - Posting 000276.txt from 1994/05

From: Andrea K Hakari <hakari@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Contrabass reed holders?
Date: Tue, 17 May 1994 16:16:17 -0400

> ps. So is it true that most contrabass parts don't *really* use the
> lowest half-octave of the instrument? I mean, only about two notes in
> any band part I've seen goes below concert-G. Is it just that I've not
> seen that many [parts] or do arrangers not exploit the low end of the
> instrument?

Virtually all of the contra parts I've played in band have used those
bottom few notes. The only part I can recall offhand as not using the
lowest notes is the Holst First Suite. There's a transcription of
Charles Ives' Piano Sonata No. 2 ("The Alcotts" movement) that uses
quite a few low written D's (bottom concert C on piano). Best part -
those spots are exposed =)

--Andrea, Bb bass clarinetist extraordinaire!!!