Klarinet Archive - Posting 000363.txt from 1996/03

From: "Daniel A. Paprocki" <dap@-----.US>
Subj: C clarinets at High Noon
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 14:39:13 -0500

Dan,
It was I that made that posting. Not to sound intermperate but
from studying with orchestral clarinetists all of my life, I've found their
philosophy to be "how can I make my life less complicated." I don't know
it all and do not wish to sound arrogant but this is my view point that has
been influence by practicing professionals. Outrageous? I don't think so.
I'm not talking about gross changes in what clarinet plays what. I
remember being in a Marcellus masterclass and hearing Mr. Marcellus say
that in the Brahms 1st Symphony mvt II, the solo after letter B is better
on Bb than A. This is also in the Bonade excerpt book. In the Borodin,
Polovetsian Dances, the solo in the Andantino has to be played on Bb so
that you're immediately ready to play in the Allegro Vivo. In the Eb
excerpt book by Pete Hadcock, he mentions that the Daphnis et Cloe II
opening is much easier on D clarinet. In the Kodaly, Dances of Galanta,
there is a section about 33 meas after the Allegro con moto that is
playable in tempo on Bb (on A, there are impossible cross fingerings unless
you have a full Boehm). That excerpt is in the Drucker Vol 8 top of page
50. Etc, etc, etc.
I didn't state that the composer has nothing to say about the
"nature of the sonic palette on which he or she depends". I still play
Stravinsky 3 pieces on the Right clarinets. I still try to play the
Francaix Concerto on Bb even though Jack Brymer (page 222 in his book)
feels that the A clarinet is the answer.
Is your hearing that select that you can tell if a player is on Bb
or A clarinet? Sorry but mine isn't. I've been fooled many times but I
always got the musical message that the composer or performer was trying to
get across.
I'm not damning all composers. Just those that don't realize that
we can't change instruments in 2 seconds, or don't know the instrument
their writting for, or can't distiguish the tonal color between a Bb or A
but keep something in a monumentally difficult key for ascetics.
I respect your opinion and value your imput but don't read into my
posting something that isn't there. Please check around and see what the
going thought is with other orchestra players. I don't dream up mass
alterations to masterworks. Let's hear others on this.

Flame On
Don't burn your fingers
Dan

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

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