Klarinet Archive - Posting 000013.txt from 1996/12

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re the Mendelssohn concert pieces
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 1996 14:26:00 -0500

Several people have suggested in a reply to a request for work
for 2 clarinets and orchestra, the Mendelssohn concertpieces.
While they are indeed wonderful works and fun to both play and
to listen to, they don't really work very well for two clarinets
(or any of the other alternative solo instrument modifications
such as clarinet & bassoon, clarinet and bass clarinet, clarinet
and alto clarinet, clarinet and cello, etc.).

It is not so much a case of functioning better or sounding better
in the original instrumentation of clarinet and basset horn as
it is a technical necessity to have the low notes of a basset
horn. The bassoon transcription borders on the unexecutable,
the bass clarinet transcription is not much more playable, the
cello version has a blend problem, and the alto clarinet does not
descend low enough.

As for the orchestral version, the first of the two is by
Mendelssohn himself whereas the second is not (though I believe
it to have been done by one of the Baermann, father or son, I
forget).

Splendid pieces, but they don't do well in a solo setting differnt
than requested.

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Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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