Klarinet Archive - Posting 000186.txt from 1997/10

From: "Frederick S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Bass Clarinet...clefs...transposition!
Date: Tue, 7 Oct 1997 10:04:21 -0400

Roger...thanks much for the reply...genuinely appreciate your taking the
time to repsond...I think I have the concepts reasonably fixed in my mind
and now is the time to practice.

Regarding item [6]...some of the material I've been reading "suggests"
there are bass clarinet parts in C although I must admit I've never asked
the question directly. I judge from your response this may not be true!
I'll re-read the information I have...perhaps my inference is wrong.

Thanks again...Fred S.

>Frederick S.:
>1] Not really - there are plenty of parts like this written in the 20th
>century.
>2] True
>3] True, I suppose
>4] & 5] True
>6] Are there any?
>
>Roger SHilcock

>On Fri, 3 Oct 1997, Frederick S. Sterns wrote:
>
>> Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 11:22:37 -0400
>> From: "Frederick S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.net>
>> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.us
>> To: klarinet@-----.us
>> Subject: Bass Clarinet...clefs...transposition!
>>
>> Having recently reviewed a sizeable collection of messages on Sneezy I am
>> bold enough now to suggest that I may actually *understand* the
>> complexities of the notation schemes for bass clarinet and for transposing
>> parts in A or C on the Bb instrument. May I test my newfound knowledge with
>> the group by making a number of statements that can be addressed as "true"
>> or "false?"
>>
>> [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.
>>
>> [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.
>>
>> [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.
>>
>> [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.
>>
>> [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.
>>
>> 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?]
>>
>> 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.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

   
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