Klarinet Archive - Posting 000291.txt from 1997/03

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Low C Bass Cl - When did they come into common use?
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 18:20:59 -0500

On Sun, 9 Mar 1997, Gary Van Cott wrote:

> I am looking at a clarinet quartet which has a bass clarinet part
> written in bass clef. It is French and from 1937. If played as written,
> it is full of low Cs. I don't believe playing it an octave higher would
> make sense because of the range in general and the fact that this would
> take the part up to an altissimo A.

According to the book "The Technique of Orchestration" by Kent Kennan, it
was customary in the 19th century for the bass clarinet, when written in
bass clef, to sound only a M2 lower than written, rather than a M9. I
would be a little surprised to see that as late as 1937, but I suppose it
could happen. I would guess that altissimo A and low C would be about
equally rare at this period.

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu