Klarinet Archive - Posting 000613.txt from 1995/10

From: Andrew Stiller <kallisti@-----.US>
Subj: clarinet choirs
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 1995 23:59:29 -0400

I'm in the process of editing for publication an arrangement for
clarinet choir of Mozart's *A Musical Joke,* and I'd appreciate some
advice from the list. I've had nothing to do w. clarinet choirs since
1966 (!) when I played alto and contrabass in the U. of Wisconsin
(Madison) clarinet choir, and I realize that a lot might have changed in
30 years. Back then, it was never quite clear whether a cl-ch. was a) a
group of no more than a dozen solo players on various sizes of cl.
(1-on-a-part), or b) the complete clarinet forces of the concert band.
Most of the arrangements and original pieces we played seemed to be
published with both possibilities in mind, and I got the impression that
most actual cl-chs. were sort of intermediate: 6 or 8 Bbs playing 3
parts, and all the other sizes solo. Is that the way things are today?
Also: what would you say is the level of expertise among the
performers--about the same as a university band? Better? Worse?

The arrangement I'm working on was conceived for 7 soloists (Eb, 3 Bb,
alto, bs, cbs), but performance by larger groups is possible and
encouraged. My intent at present is to make available, over and above
the basic score and 7 parts, a set (separately purchasable) of
supplemental parts comprising Ab, 4 Bb (the extra part reinforcing the
Eb), basset horn, and contra-alto. I would like to make the publication
attractive to as wide a variety of clarinet ensembles as possible; have
I got it right?

Andrew Stiller
Kallisti Music Press
kallisti@-----.us