Klarinet Archive - Posting 000839.txt from 1996/02

From: niethamer@-----.BITNET
Subj: Re: C clarinets & others
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 22:15:15 -0500

> Conrad Jasias wrote:
>
> > I couldn't resist saying "amen" to your message about C clarinets
> >and (parenthetically Eb clarinets). I just finished the first of two
> >performances of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, with its famous Scherzo movement
> >written for C clarinet. The overall Symphony, which is scored for Bb, A,
> >and C clarinets, leaves little doubt that Beethoven chose his clarinets
> >for color.

Very true. There's a very different blend with the oboes and flutes when
these passages are played on C clarinets

> > As you implied in your message, the list of C clarinet passages
> >in the orchestral literature is impressive. Other notable additions to
> >your list are Brahms' 4th Symphony, Bizet's Symphony in C, Mendelssohn's
> >Symphony No. 5 (the Reformation), and numerous opera-orchestra clarinet
> >parts.

On Wed, 28 Feb 1996, Takashi Kawai wrote:
>
> However, as you know, Brahms requires low Eb note for the 3rd
> movement of his 4th symphony. I don't know whether such C clarinets
> are available or not. I believe most clarinet players play this
> movement with Bb clarinet.

Since the Viennese have been tinkering with additions to flutes and oboes
since at least the time of Mozart, and probably before, there are (were?)
probably C clarinets that extended to the written Eb. For now, I play
this movement on the A clarinet to keep the same instrument warm for the
whole symphony (and save a certain amount of swabbing when it's over!)
Dan Leeson is probably cringing, but unless he sells me the extension to
go with his C clarinet, it's the best I can do for now. I will be taking
a look at a workaround for this problem the next time I have to play
Brahms 4, because I think the C clarinet, as far as possible, should be used.

David Niethamer

   
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