Klarinet Archive - Posting 000342.txt from 1995/07

From: Tom Izzo <tji@-----.EDU>
Subj: Multiple playered Clarinets
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 1995 23:06:28 -0400

On Sun, 30 Jul 1995, David Niethamer wrote:

> > >would these duets be for top *and* bottom halves? This is a semi-serious
> > >question, and an interesting twist on the original intent.
> > >
> > >David Niethamer
> >
> On Sat, 29 Jul 1995, Bill Hall wrote:
> >
> > Uh, the top half plays the same notes as a whole clarinet except for C,
> > which plays C#.
>
> Yes, so *one* clarinet, two players, two mouthpieces, could do some
> freaky duos a-la Poulenc Duo, with two "clarinets" in different "keys" -
> one in whatever key contains only a C#, and the other in a sort of bizarre
> "horn 5ths" mode. I think there are some interesting possibilities here
> for composers in the Lou Harrison/Harry Partch(?)/Henry Brandt
> mold.

This sounds like a job yet to be "discovered" by Peter Schickele of the
music of P.D.Q. Bach. I can see it now "Sonata for Clarinet-4 hands"

I wonder also if a transcrition of the Sonata for Viola--4 hands would be
feasible on this Clarinet set-up? Hmmmm

Tom