Klarinet Archive - Posting 000399.txt from 1996/03

From: Steve Prescott <mipresc@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Choice of Clarinet
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 1996 09:13:00 -0500

I've been following this "choice of clarinet" thread rather sporadically.
Someone might have already mentioned what I'm about to write.

As with most early instruments that were diatonic rather than chromatic,
makers made them (the instruments) different lengths, corresponding to the
key in which they were to be played. Horn is the 1st example that comes to
mind. Since it was rather inconvenient for the player to carry around a
horn in every key in which he/she was to play, manufacturers of the horn
started making crooks to enable the player to play in different keys, using
same horn.

The specification by the composer for the player to use different clarinets
should be determined by the key in which the composer has written the
piece. This decision should be made with regard to ease of playing. John
Morrison wrote of "The Sorcerer," written with six flats and one
double-flat...At least the publisher had brains enough to print a part for
the "right clarinet."

Steve.

Steve Prescott
Instrument Rep.Tech./ Clarinetist
Indiana State University
mipresc@-----.edu