Klarinet Archive - Posting 000041.txt from 1995/06

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: D clarinet
Date: Sun, 4 Jun 1995 12:08:02 -0400

I hardly ever play the high clarinets any longer. It was never my
strength. But realizing that one has to be able to play them from time
to time I addressed the question of D clarinet a number of years ago
and solved it in a way that I think is somewhat unique.

I bought an E-flat clarinet that has a low written E-flat on it. When I
was living in Paris I went to Buffet and Selmer and asked if either would
build a full Boehm E-flat clarinet with the extra half tone at the bottom
end. Buffet indicated that they would not make such an instrument. But
Selmer did and I still have it. On those very rare occasions when I need
a D clarinet (Mahler 5 is such a case) I transpose it on E-flat clarinet
knowing that I have the extra half tone should it every be needed. It
never has been but I sleep better at night.

The Till Eulenspiegel solo is, of course, for clarinet in D and I once
learned it by playing it as written, that is, without transposing it
and just as if I had a D clarinet in my hands. I didn't, of course, but
I got the feel of the part in the original key and, frankly, I found it
much more easily played than in the E-flat transposition.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
====================================

   
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