Klarinet Archive - Posting 000383.txt from 1997/09

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Bb and A clarinets
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 15:51:27 -0400

On Mon, 8 Sep 1997, Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu wrote:

> It was that book (Lefevre) that completely reversed my thinking about
> clarinet usage. I always presumed that the selection of the clarinet
> pitch was based partly on the characteristic sound of the instrument.
> But the evidence does not support that conclusion. If one can
> extrapolate from Lefevre, the reason is much more practical; i.e., to
> force the clarinet (by change of instrument) into a key of no more than
> two and preferably one sharp.

True, this is what was specified. Now, have you gone beyond this to try
to determine _why_ this was so. In other words, if, as you say, it was
not because of the "characteristic sound of the instrument," then what was
it based on?

I would be interested to learn what you have concluded about this.

Ed Lacy
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Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
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