Klarinet Archive - Posting 000207.txt from 1995/06

From: Gary Bisaga <gary@-----.ORG>
Subj: Re: RE>Dan Leeson's comments on my comments
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 12:43:12 -0400

Dan Leeson wrote:

>If Richard Strauss will write for 4 clarinets simultaneously, 2 in
>B-flat and 2 in A, and all 4 are playing at the same time, what
>useful purpose is served by this combination if timbre or
>sound-character is not being sought for? Same question with respect
>to Percy Grainger who requested mixed clarinets in his band
>composition, "Hill Song Number 2"?

As a possible parallel there's a string quartet, the title of which
escapes me, by Peter Sculthorpe. It has kind of a pastoral theme, and
in it he specifies passages where the first violin bows up while the
second bows down, even playing parallel passages. Gives the music
quite an interesting texture. I understand (can't remember where
from) he was going for a less sophisticated, in part, less uniform,
sound than he would get with a prefessional quartet. I am sure I have
heard similar kinds of thoughts from Grainger, although not
specifically on this piece.