Klarinet Archive - Posting 000114.txt from 1995/06

From: Jay Heiser <jay@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Scott's comments on the B-flat clarinet
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 1995 14:22:27 -0400

----------
From: Tom Izzo
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 1995 23:17
To: Multiple recipients of list KLARINET
Subject: Re: Scott's comments on the B-flat clarinet

Jay,
I'm going to guess that you are a band player & not an orchestral player.
You are correct. My comments were generalizations that reflect the majority
of musicians. The majority of musicians do not play in symphony orchestras.

Obviously, many instruments are available in many keys, but that doesn't mean
that anyone uses them. You could have a hand-made instrument in any arbitrary
range, but such a thing would be useful only to the owner.

I've yet to actually encounter a sax not in Eb or Bb. Sopranino is in F --
perhaps that
is the practical limit on the highest range? Adolph invented a whole range,
but you
can't afford one now and would have nothing to do with it.

A Db picc would be quite handy, but again, this is just an expediency to
accomodate
band music. The orchestral arrangement of "Stars & Stripes" is in a difft key
than the
band arrangement just to accomodate the piccs. Band instrumentalists suffer or
get a second instrument. I don't believe that either the choice of instrument
key or arrangement key was made for aesthetic reasons -- these are choices just
designed to make life easier ("Gypsy" uses the band key, BTW).

I've never had the opportunity to use a C clarinet that wasn't junk, although
I'm aware that such a thing exists. A purest wanting to emulate Rudy Wiedoft
will find a C-melody, but unless Yanigasawa makes one, you can't buy a new one
w/o having it made for you.

I'm sure that you've had more music history than I have. Perhaps I've had more
business and economics than you have had. Let me try again:
The aesthetic differences in sound between Bb and C clarinets are too subtle
to make it economically reasonable to expect anyone to actually buy both.
I've yet to see an arrangement for a musical include both a Bb and A clarinet.
If the orchestrator wants to create tonal variety, he jumps at least half an
octave and often jumps to a different instrument entirely (or mute for brass
players).

********************************************

On Thu, 8 Jun 1995, Jay Heiser wrote:

> Tone color? How can 1/2 step make such a difference in sound? I think it was
an A Clarinet is longer & broader at the bottom-so the tone IS different,
It's not just an added note at the bottom. Expediancy doesn't count here,
because Orchestral Trumpets are not in Bb.
> expediency -- the clarinet matches the other Bb instruments. I cannot believe
> that
> it was a coincidence that so many instruments ended up being so close to
concert
> pitch w/o being concert pitch.
75% of Orchestral trumpet playing is done on a C Trumpet. The other 25%
is done on D Trumpet, E, Eb, F, G, Piccolo Trumpet in C, Bb, and A.
Us Orchestral professionals read in other keys on the instruments we use
for tone purposes, for example Brahms & Mozart is most often done on a D
Trumpet even if the part is written for a C, or an A, or a D Trumpet,
because the instrument is closer to the sound that the composer wanted.
> It would have made everyone's life easier if half of the wind instruments
could
> be in C and the other half could be in F (or in G, but not both). Its
really
Not all Flutes are in C & G either. The piccolo (flute) can be in C or
Db, Sopranino flute is in Eb, Sop-C, Alto-G, Bass-C.
The reference to the guitar is also true for all String
instruments-Violin, Viola, Cello, Harp, Guitar, String Bass, Mandoline,
etc. The open Strings are (sharp keys) E, A, D, G, B, C, etc. You do not
see any Bb or Eb Strings. Saxes are available by the way in other
keys-you can get Sop, Tenor & Bass Saxes in both Bb & C-your flute key,
ans Sopranino, Alto, Bari, & Contrabass are available in Eb & F, if you
want to have your consistency.
> inconvenient
> that flutes are not in the same key as trumpets, clarinets & saxes and that
eng
> horns
> and alto flutes are in difft keys.
>
> I believe it was a historical accident and I will need to see strong evidence
> before
> I'm prepared to accept an explanation based on aesthetics.
>
> Point to ponder: guitars are easier to play in # keys. Note that guitar
> players often
> write music in # keys and wind players more often write music in flat keys.
(no,
> I
> do not have statistical evidence to back this up)
>
> ----------
> From: thehat@-----.ORG
> Sent: Thursday, June 08, 1995 20:41
> To: Multiple recipients of list KLARINET
> Subject: Scott's comments on the B-flat clarinet
The use of Clarinets, Trumpets, Horns in manyt different keys was more
common historically because of the limited ranges in the Woodwinds, and
before slides & valves in the Brasses.

If you'd like statistical information-read ANY musical instrument history
book, better yet take a music history course.

>
> Originally, one would have had all clarinets: a, b-flat, c,d. THe d went
> first, then came back as the e-flat clarinet in military bands and then
> the orchestra. THe prominence of the b-flat instrument is most likely
> because of bands. THe loss of the c clarinet is most likely a choice of
> tone color.
And the C Clarinet does still exist. It's more expensive becausenot as
many are needed. But you can purchase clarinets in:
Piccolo: Ab (& I've recently reference to a Piccolo A Clarinet)
Sopranino: F, Eb, D
Soprano: C, Bb, A
Bassett: G, F
Alto: F, Eb, D
Bass: C, Bb, A
Contra Alto: F, Eb
Contra Bass: C, Bb
And there is ONE Double Contra in EEb

Tom
tji@-----.edu