Klarinet Archive - Posting 000149.txt from 1995/03

From: James Sclater <sclater@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Transpositions
Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 14:35:35 -0500

Mr. Leeson's question about "who is boss?" with regard to
transposing leads me to reply that the sound that goes out to the listener
ought to be the prime concern. Few people are going to purchase C
clarinets even though much music is written for them. It doesn't really
matter, does it, if the "C" part is played on B-flat as long as it's
played musically. I heard once that Italian clarinettists regularly use a
full Boehm system instrument so that they can transpose A clarinet parts
to B-flat (does anyone know if this is still a practice there?). It would
seem if this were true, Italian composers wouldn't write anything but
B-flat clarinet parts, which is hardly the case.
The end result should be the music, not which instrument we play
it on.
Jim Sclater

James Sclater inet: sclater@-----.edu
Mississippi College (601)925-3445
Clinton, MS 39058

   
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