Klarinet Archive - Posting 000924.txt from 1997/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Well, here we go again
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 17:51:33 -0400

Steve...

No need to ride the fence. Transpose at will....for either the bass
clarinet, soprano Bb/A/C, or Eb/D. The rest of the orchestra is on modern
instruments...no reason to feel guilty. I believe the discussion is with
regard to philosophy....I'm not buying into the business of having to play
it on a certain horn or else. I have been Principal Clarinetist in the
10th oldest U.S. symphony for some time, and, quite frankly, if they can
do it in other major orchestras....so can we!

Roger Garrett

On Fri, 19 Sep 1997, Steve Prescott wrote:

> 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
>
>
>