Klarinet Archive - Posting 000265.txt from 1996/03

From: "Daniel A. Paprocki" <dap@-----.US>
Subj: Re: C Clarinets and transposition
Date: Sun, 10 Mar 1996 00:24:10 -0500

Jacqueline,
In an "Ideal" world I wouldn't have to carry my bass, triple case,
and brief case to rehearsal and then end up sitting within inches of the
tympany in the War Requiem.
If you don't have a C clarinet how would you know the composer's
intent - Bb or A transpose? Some times it's better to transpose the part
be it C, Bb, or A to another clarinet for a more fluid line (let's see
sixteenths at 144 in E major or in G major? you be the judge) The audience
and conductors don't have ears that are so sensitive as to detect the
difference between a Bb or A clarinet - my opinion - I even have been
fooled when sitting next to a colleague transposing a part.
Sometimes composers don't realize that we can't change instruments
in 6 beats. Pick up a cold clarinet a risk being out of tune on an exposed
passage or (heaven forbid!) go against the composers wishes and transpose
the passage to a warm and in tune clarinet for a coulple of lines - I don't
know. Check out the clarinet tone postings - I have this neat little
whistle but I don't think it works. No sound comes out when I blow it but
all the oboist on the block start howling. The most important thing is the
music - however one has to produce it.

Watch your fingers
Flame On
Dan

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

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