Klarinet Archive - Posting 000163.txt from 1995/06

From: Thomas Labadorf <Labadorf@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: First things first
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 1995 23:29:30 -0400

Dan Leeson wrote:

"Bottom line: it is not my business to presume that I know better about the
music than the person who wrote it. If that person wants a clarinet in X,
I'll try and get one. I am hired to play the music as the composer wrote it,
hopefully with enough of a knowledge of performance practices of that era
that justify every action I take. And the instrument of choice for the
composer is part of that total package."

Bravo, Mr. Leeson. You won my respect on this one. But there must be some
reason that certain pieces or passages are played on a different pitched
clarinet than originally written. I'd like to think that there is a better
reason for it than plain ole tradition, or "That's the way so-and-so does
it." Why do some clarinetists play the 2nd movement of Schubert C on Bb
instead of A? Other than 'C' or 'D' transpositions, are there any other
orchestra clarinet parts played on anything other than the original pitched
clarinet, and for what reason?

I know of one: The famous Bizet Carmen solo transposed from one to the other
(can't remember which) to avoid the f#-g# trill in the clarinet register. If
I had to play this solo, I'd strongly consider the switch in order to avoid
the extreem embarassment of a poorly executed trill where everyone could
hear. It'd be like standing in front of an audience with your fly down.

Any others?

Tom L.

   
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