Klarinet Archive - Posting 000210.txt from 1995/01

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Mahler and the clarinet
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 1995 20:35:11 -0500

I so very much enjoyed reading Bill Helmers comments on the bass
clarinet usage in the Mahler symphonies. Unfortunately, I have not
played 6, 7, or 8. But it is in the 4th symphony where I believe
Mahler's intent with respect to bass clarinet key is made clear.

In this symphony, he uses both A and B-flat bass clarinets, often
putting them in difficult keys (which argues the question about
why not use the other instrument in an easier key). But at the
very end of the symphony, and with ample time to select either
bass clarinet, Mahler deliberately requests a bass in B-flat for an
exposed solo in 6 sharps. So one asks why he places the B-flat
bass clarinet in F-sharp major when he could have used the half
step of the A to put it in a much, much easier key? In fact,
whenever I do Mahler 4, I always play that little solo on an
A bass, but I feel guilty about it because I am convinced that
he asked for exactly what he wanted to hear. I don't know this
to be true, of course, but the logic is on my side.

Certainly Mahler had a keen ear. His neuroticism didn't affect
his sense of tonal character.

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