Klarinet Archive - Posting 000042.txt from 1995/03

From: "John C. Werner" <John_Werner@-----.EDU>
Subj: Transpositions
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 1995 11:45:09 -0500

I play the clarinet for my own pleasure and with members of my family, i.e.
nto the "big time", but I have certainly enjoyed some of the discussions I
have encountered on this list. I have been working up to posting this
question for quite some time now, and have finally decided that it is not
too trivial given that I am trying to teach a few children the rudiments of
play and ensemble work.

Because I have done some musical arranging using a computer program for
music printing, my work came to the attention of the director of my sons'
orchestra conductors who asked my to transpose some clarinet. trumpet and
horn parts (Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Overture, Brahms symphonies). I
encountered a brass teacher who was horrified that I had made such
transpositions for horn players because it would contribute to impairing
their abilities to transfer on sight. I have not encountered the clarinet
teachers on this issue where A parts were transposed for the Bflat clarinet
(leaving one note out of the range.)

Have I hampered the musical development of these junior high and high
school students? Such transpositions are trivially easy given a fast
computer, and with music reading software being produced even now, it will
become even easier. Or are we becoming to dependent on high technology for
our musicmaking.

Chris Werner, father, music lover, band director, Brown University
copyist, singer, accompanist, and pediatric Medical School
cardiologist. Providence, RI
John_Werner@-----.edu Voice: (401)444-5984