Klarinet Archive - Posting 000025.txt from 1995/06

From: SCOTT MCCHESNEY <scmcchesney@-----.NET>
Subj: Clarinet timbre
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 1995 18:40:58 -0400

I have seen in many different orchestraion books, as well as being
taught by my teacher, that there IS a difference in timbre between the two
Clarinets.
I never played on an A until I got to college (surprise!). Aside from
the technical aspect of possessing the extra semitone down on the A, the A
clarinet is, traditionally, a bit darker than the Bb. Or, so I'm told, and I
did hear a difference when I played the two.
Obviously, technique is the same. But, since the tone is "darker" (I
know, we can't use those words any more! It's different to me, OK?), and I'm
also told that the difference between the Eb and D Soprano Clarinets is
similar, why did the D Clarinet die out (almost all parts written for a D are
played on an Eb, thus losing any technical advantage as well as timbre
differences) and the A did not? Players still search for the elusive "matched
pair" of Bb and A clarinets. Why not a "matched pair" of Eb and D Clarinets?

-- Scott, humble 23-year-old