Klarinet Archive - Posting 000942.txt from 1995/10

From: Lindsey Glen <lindsey.glen%queens.oxford.ac.uk@-----.BITNET>
Subj: Re: Many questions and English Music
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 1995 13:53:03 -0400

On Wed, 25 Oct 1995, Scott D. Morrow wrote:
> Bass clarinet isn't hard at all, and you don't even have to read
> bass clef! The mouthpiece is, of course, larger, and you might need to

I wish - I got to the first rehearsal for some Wagner the other day and
found myself sightreading not only in bass clef (which I've just about
sussed although I'm a second study bassoonist and to start with wanted to
play bassoon fingurings the whole time!) but also for bass clarinet in A.
What a nightmare - by the time I'd figured out what the note was everyone
else had moved on (I'm cheating and have written it all in in pencil
although I'll rub a few out each time because I'll have to get the hang
of it sometime). Did they ever have A basses?

However, Abbie, I don't want to put you off because the bass clarinet is
a WONDERFUL instrument and well worth working at. Beware of pooor
instruments though. I've just replaced my old Leblanc E flat and bought a
nearly-new Selmer low C at a bargain price and couldn't be happier -
though I'm not sure what the neighbours think (I'm in university halls).

While I'm on here a while ago someone was asking about ideas for an
English clarinet programme at the same time as I was planning one. My
recitals in is three weeks and will include the Vaughan Williams Folk
Song Studies, York Bowen Sonata, Finzi Bagatelles, Malcolm Arnold
Sonatina, Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet by Lennox Berkely and, as an
encore, the ragtime third movement to Malcolm Arnold's 2nd Clarinet
concerto. (That looks like a lot but they're all really short). I'm also
tempted to include the Keith Ramon Cole Paganini Variations for bass
which someone suggested when I was looking for bass music some time ago
now. You guys are so helpful! Thanks everyone!

Lindsey