Klarinet Archive - Posting 000048.txt from 1994/07

From: Myron Bennett <usr3962a@-----.EDU>
Subj: the issue of (instrument) substitution
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 1994 07:29:24 -0400

This is somewhat afield from clarinet substitution, but anyway. As you may
or may not know, in Ravel's "Bolero," he asks for (among other things) a
sopraNINO saxophone in F. These days it is almost invariably played by the
normal (?) Bb soprano sax.
A couple of concerts ago, the semi-pro orchestra I play English horn in
scheduled Bolero, and the conductor (an adventuresome sort) thought it would
be nice to play it with a sopranino, but where to find one? It so happens
that I own one, so I lent it. (And I'd much rather have played it than
E.h, but that's the way it goes.)
In my estimation, agreed with by some others, it was a grand success; the
sopranino getting more of the raucous feeling it seems Ravel wanted.
However, it was not a totally authentic original orchestration performance ...
not TOTALLY. For Ravel asked for So'ino in F, and they don't make them that
way anymore, but in Eb. (Back then, saxophones were made in orchestral keys
but eventually the ones for military bands took over, thus the Bb-Eb-Bb-Eb
etc. ones of today.)
And even Ravel had a bit of trouble with it, because the last four measures
of the melody are below the F instrument's range, so he has the soprano sax
take over at that point.
Well, I didn't get to play it, but I heard it, and I think Ravel knew what
he was doing.
Just thought you might like to know.

Myron