Klarinet Archive - Posting 000825.txt from 1996/02

From: "Daniel A. Paprocki" <dap@-----.US>
Subj: C clarinets & others
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 10:12:27 -0500

Sean,
Actually there are many pieces in the orchestra rep that call for C
clarinet. Such as:
Berlioz Sym Fantastic - Mvts. IV,V
Schubert Great (9)
Rossini Overtures
Tchaikovsky Mozartiana
R. Strauss wind symphonies (very big part)
Schubert Octet
Rimsky-Korsakov Russian Easter Overture
Smetana Bartered Bride
Nicolai The Merry Wives Of Windsor
Beethoven Sym 1
That's just a few, not to mention it's use in operas. The trouble is that
it's tone color is a mix of Eb and Bb. The low register sounds like a Bb
and the top register like an Eb. If it's only called on for color as in
the Berlioz Sym Fantastic mvt. V or the Strauss Wind symphonies it works
fine. If both the 1st and 2nd clarinets are on C clarinet both players
either have to use or not use them. The difference between the C and Bb in
tone color would be too noticable to mix them in a classical era piece.
Before you get a C clarinet, get an Eb or bass. Actually I bought
my Eb before my A clarinet because I was doing more Eb work in band and
wind ensemble.
A word to those aspiring high school students. Your market value
to a university music program will be greater if you can play Eb or bass.
This goes for all you music majors. If you are fluid (not just "I played
it in a concert") on Eb or bass your job prospects sharply increase. I've
done most of my professional work on bass clarinet (Columbus Symphony,
Pittsburgh Symphony). My bass clarinet purchases have easily paid for
themselves. I've seen many music majors turn up their noses at playing the
"funny" clarinets or brag that they never played bass and never will. I
just laugh while I get called for jobs and they don't.

Dan

> Did someone say that the price tag on the buffet c clarinet was
>$6000+?? How much repertory is out there for specifically for the
>C clarinet? In our orchestra we are playing a Beethoven piano concerto
>that calls for C so I know it is used, but how much? Enough to warrent
>that much cash invested? This is interesting to me because I'm finding
>C clarient to be rather fun to play.
>
>Sean

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Daniel A. Paprocki
dap@-----.us

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