Klarinet Archive - Posting 000023.txt from 1995/06

From: Tom Izzo <tji@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Weird keys, emotional keys, colored keys
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 1995 17:13:39 -0400

James, &...
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On Fri, 2 Jun 1995, James Sclater wrote:

> Mitch's comments about the Stoltzman concert are very intriguing. His
> statement about being able to tell the difference in A and Bb clarinet in
> live performance reminded me of the story I heard many years ago about the
> conductor who tried to do that. It seems that this orchestra was in
> rehearsal and the conductor stopped and asked the 1st clarinetist if he
> was playing on the Bb clarinet. Upon learning that the clarinetist was
> indeed playing on the Bb inst., the conductor said that the score called
> for A clarinet and "...would you please change to the A." Well, you
> guessed it. The clarinetist put down the Bb, picked it up again, and
> played the same passage. Whereupon the conductor stated, "See it sounds
> so much better on the A clarinet."
> Whether or not the story is true or not seems beside the point.
> The fact is that the whole question of using only the instrument specified
> by the composer for a particular work seems to re-appear at this point.
> Certain keys favor certain instruments...flat keys favor Bb clarinet; sharp
> keys favor use of the A clarinet.
> In the hands of a really good player one might not be able
> to tell which instrument it is. Does the argument for only using the
> instrument specified by the composer concern timbre or facility in a key?
> Is there really an answer for this question? I'd really like to get some
> feedback on this.

For my money it's a timber issue. I'm a Trombone/Tuba player. While doing
Beethoven's 5th last year, 1st part calls for an Alto Trombone, which I
used for the performances. I was filling in in this orchestra for the
broken-legged regular 1st player, who only played Tenor. Suffice it to
say, I have been asked back many times now by the Conductor/Contractor
because "it sounds much more realistic" (their words), but the notes
themselves are indeed playable on a Tenor, In fact very playable on my
Bass as well.

The A Clarinet is slightly longer and larger by the vary nature (1/2 step
lower in Concert pitch), than a Bb. I'm not much of a Clarinet player, but I
have been playing professionally for 30 years, and I can hear a
difference from Bb to A instruments, if all things are equal (ie: same
player, same mouthpiece/strength of reed, etc).

Tom
tji@-----.edu