Klarinet Archive - Posting 000919.txt from 1997/09

From: mipresc@-----.edu (Steve Prescott)
Subj: Well, here we go again
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 16:58:50 -0400

I'm riding the fence on this one. Where as I believe we should try in every
instance to play the instrument intended by the composer, I also know that
most of us cannot afford to purchase the entire family of clarinets. I have
an Bb and A of course and also an Eb and Bass. The bass is not a low C bass
(which is problematic) and it is pitched in Bb, not A. There have been some
instances where an A bass clarinet was needed; I transposed the part.
Though I am first and foremost a clarinetist and I love to play and oddly
enough practice, I cannot justify, with my present income, the purchase of
an A bass clarinet, an A sopranino, a C clarinet and/or a D clarinet. Does
this make me a villain...I don't think so. Does this mean I do not want to
play the instrument intended...I don't think so. Most of us are caught
between a rock and hard place. This is not a justification to play the
"wrong" clarinet, merely an observation.

Steve

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