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Klarinet Archive - Posting 000033.txt from 1995/06

From: Alan Stanek <STANALAN@-----.EDU>
Subj: Colored Keys
Date: Sat, 3 Jun 1995 12:07:38 -0400

Dear klarinet enthusiasts:

I find the discussion of weird/emotional/colored keys interesting. In my
opinion, there are some definte reasons why composers choose Bb or A for
their compositions. Perhaps the telling example is Stravinsky's "Three Pieces
for Clarinet Solo" where he specifically asks for the first two movements to
be "Preferably Clarinet in A" and the third movement "Preferably Clarinet in
Bb". Rosario Mazzeo in an article in "the Clarinet" May/June 1991, entitled
"Mazzeo Musings Series II, No. 23, wrote, "....the use of the A and Bb
clarinets was indicated so that the proper character of each piece would be
best portrayed, especially the quietness of the first, and the brilliance of
the third movement." The question of "ease of fingering" here is not
applicable.

Another example is Jack Brymer's clarinet arrangement of Franz Schubert's
'Sonata in A minor for Arpeggione and Piano'. This arrangement calls for
clarinet in A. In the preface notes he writes: "It was felt to be essential
to produce the work in the original key, since this was an aspect Schubert
regarded as important, and said so. It has therefore been necessary to
present the sonata for clarinet in A ........" Having also performed the
arrangement/transcription/transposition by Simeon Bellison ("Sonata-Concerto
in G Minor) published 1940 by Carl Fischer, I found both versions to be
satifying. However, comments by some of my colleagues leads me to believe
that the arrangement by Brymer in the original key is more musically
satifying and I think much easier (fingering) for the clarinetist AND
pianist.

Jim Sclater's remarks and story about the conductor who didn't know the
difference are right on! Karl Haas? once had a NPR radio broadcast entitled
"Key Personalities". His musical examples demonstrated that composers must
have thought carefully about the KEYS they used in their compositions. The
keys used may have resulted because of the instruments available at the time
or the color produced by certain strings, pitch differences, etc. The
literature is full of examples where key feeling/color is definetly a major
aspect of the composition.

CHEERS! Have a great weekend!