Klarinet Archive - Posting 001084.txt from 1997/09

From: peter.stoll@-----.ca
Subj: Re: Eb clarinets/cornets in band
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 00:03:08 -0400

The "sharp below, flat up top" phenomenon I mentioned is only from
personal experience; when I've played Eb doubling Bb's an octave above,
and mostly playing in the clarion register of the Eefer, I've found
sharpness was always the tendency (ie.G above the staff up to C and D).
But for some reason, when playing up in piccolo territory at the top of
loud tuttis, I've usually had to bring the notes UP. I read in a book on
piano tuning that you usually have to stretch the extremes of registers
further in their respective directions, ie.top up and bottom down
(ie.please no sharp bassoons or bass clarinet at the bottom of chords
given the beats double as you proceed up the octaves). So the high E and F
and above (shudder) of the Eefer is usually on the low side. (always
surprised me, bringing it up).

BTW, anyone who's played D/Eb on Til Eulenspiegel, I've always wondered
what it's like to actually play the nasty solo up to the high G (on Eb, if
I remember the Hadcock excerpt book) and hold it with flutes and other
ww's; that must be scary!

Peter Stoll
Instructor of Clarinet and Chamber Music
University of Toronto