Klarinet Archive - Posting 000389.txt from 1997/03

From: thehat@-----.org
Subj: Re: Question about music.
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 00:01:08 -0500

In a message dated 03-12-97 INTERNET: gyoung@-----.C wrote to ** ALL **:
Ig> I was wondering if anyone knew of a book for clarinet that contained
Ig> transcriptions of the Bach Violin Concertos or similar pieces? I was
Ig> listening to one of these on NPR as I was driving home tonight and
Ig> thought it sounded like it would be something fun to practice on
Ig> clarinet. If such a thing exists, I'd really enjoy having it to
Ig> practice from.

I own and play through regularly (haven't had an opportunity for live
performance yet) all of the published Bach flute sonatas + the unaccompanied
flute partita in a minor. These rank among the greatest literature for the
flute (although the e-flat major one which, interestingly, is quite often
played on the clarinet, is probably not by JS Bach himself). Range is
generally not a big issue, with the highest note I can think of being a top
written "a" (b or c for us, depending which clarinet you use) in the partita.

In addition to the above, I find Bach one of the most difficult composers to
transpose, due to the chromatic nature of his music. Try to sight read the
first movemet of the partita on b-flat clarinet. It's harder than it looks
(it's also damn hard to get through without being extremely fatigued).

Technically, they are great challenges. The keys are mostly awkward (again,
the e-flat major is the exception), the others being in, I think, e-minor, b
minor, c major, e major, g minor and e major). Thus, they fall, as my teacher
used to say, "on the sides of the clarinet." Articulation becomes an issue
also, at times. Hope this helps some.

David Hattner
clarinetist-at-large, NYC
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