Klarinet Archive - Posting 000343.txt from 1995/07

From: Bill Hall <billhall@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Multiple playered Clarinets
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 1995 23:06:29 -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

I don't think you'll be doing any transcriptions. The lower half plays the
following notes if you start at the right hand fingering for low E and work
your way up chromatically:

Fingered note Actual note

E Between C# and D
F Between D# and E
F# Between F and F#
G G
G# A (a little flat)
A Between C and D
A# Between Eb and E
B Between F and F#
C Between A and A#

Note that "between" doesn't mean 1/4 step. It means "somewhere between" - it
varies.

Aren't you sorry you asked?

Gotta go to bed. I think I stayed up too late :)