Klarinet Archive - Posting 000135.txt from 1997/10

From: "Leo van Zantvoort" <leovz@-----.nl>
Subj: Re: Bass Clarinet...clefs...transposition!
Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 09:24:09 -0400

Ok, let us give it a try...

On Sat, 4 Oct 1997 21:19:21 -0400, klarinet-digest wrote:
>Date: Sat, 4 Oct 1997 14:38:10 -0400
>From: "Frederick S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.net>

>[1] Prior to this Century most bass clarinet parts were written in the bass
>clef...and these are to be read in the traditional fashion [the line above
>the staff is C] and the sound in concert key is one half-tone below.

Not always true... In Germany it is still common (conservative) practice to write in the bass clef... and the
sound in concert key is one tone below... (where do you get the "half"?)

>[2] ...but...for reasons of convenience, often to avoid a stack of ledger
>lines above the staff, some of these parts mentioned above were also
>written in the treble clef...and these should be transposed *up* an octave
>in order to sound a half step below the actual notation.

No, not true... The transposition is still one tone... Not the octave thing...

>[3] Neither of the above "rules" are absolute and it is always desirable
>[necessary?] to examine the score to determine which octave the note is
>actually in...and adjust accordingly.

So true!

>[4] To play an A bass clarinet part on a Bb instrument [e.g.,
>Rachmaninoff's Symphony No.2], read the bass clef traditionally but lower
>the notes one-half tone.

Yes... and switch your hands... (right up, left down) just to make it more fun :-) (still that "half" glitch)

>[5] ...same for any A part written in the treble clef [e.g., Mahler's
>Symphony No. 7]...read the treble clef traditionally but lower the notes a
>half tone.

Yes... but additional: drink a glass of water simultaneously through a straw (by nose...)

>Now we come to bass clarinet parts in C and How to transpose them on the Bb
>instrument?...
>
>[6]...play the notes a whole tone up [????????? For some reason my mind
>goes out of gear at this point! Can anyone elucidate?]

Yes... keep practicing!

The trick on transposing is just practice... The detour you suggested is not an easier way... just another...

>I recognize that all this no doubt is quite basic to most on this list, but
>some of us are making elementary transitions [I, for example, from jazz to
>classical playing!] and need primer advice on many of the fundamentals.
>
>Any comments/thoughts/advice will be much appreciated. Fred S.

Go and sit to a piano and play a note on the clarinet and compare it to the piano... This could clarify one
and another... ( the difference between a C and a BES is one whole tone... not a half...)

success!... (I hope you don't mind the funny intended remarks) Leo.