Klarinet Archive - Posting 000383.txt from 1994/12

From: Christopher G Zello <czello@-----.EDU>
Subj: Nutcracker bass clarinet
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 1994 03:35:32 -0500

Although I will sound much like a smart-alec regarding Mr. Leeson's
recent 3 points about Tchaikovsky's choice of clarinets and bass clarinet
and his logic behind each. . .maybe an additional choice might be that
Tch. himself wanted the sound of the A bass clarinet or the sound of the
B-flat bass, regardless of the sound of the soprano clarinets??

(I would have figured that you of all people, Dan, would have placed this
first on your list. . .)

My question relates to Ballet music in general, using the Nutcracker as
an example (I just played it for the first time this year!!). Although
some numbers are in more difficult keys, has anyone found that most
clarinet parts choose the clarinet to put it in a better key (i.e. up or
down a half step depending). I really didn't have much trouble with the
keys of my (second) clarinet part. But, it is really hard to play the
darned thing right after one rehearsal.

Could it be that the clarinet parts in B-flat are when the clarinet part
is used to double high voices (violin, flute, oboi), while the A clarinet
is used when the clarinet part doubles middle voices (horn, bassoon,
celli)? Granted this is not always the case, for every single measure.

PS--to those of you who haven't played the Nutcracker, get a part and a
recording as it is NOT as easy as it sounds. I was totally trapped by
hearing all this wonderful music, I could sing all the "tunes," etc. But
the clarinet part it not easy. And picture the difficulty in a second
clarinet part condensed to include all the bass clarinet stuff (one
doubling part covers second and bass clarinet). If I could only have
four arms and two mouths to cover this "reduction". . .

Christopher Zello
czello@-----.edu
Milwaukee, WI

   
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