Klarinet Archive - Posting 000890.txt from 1997/10

From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Bass clarient in A
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 07:42:39 -0400

The suggestion of "ignorance" was Roger's, I said "stupid". This refers
NOT to Strauss etc, who had bass clarinets in A available, but to any
1997 composer who calls for an archaic instrument that is very rare and
will make a problem for the player. Shall we write for D clarinets and
F alto Saxophones?--I have one of each, but they are not instruments
that can be found generally.

At the risk of being too rude, I point out that the Schuller Sonata for
Bb and Bass clarinet has both players change from Bb to A in the
finale. What a slap in the face! Is it better to transpose the part,
or to have the Bb clarinet remain on Bb, thus playing the movement a
half step too high--or to avoid performances entirely??

Robert Howe

Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu wrote:
>
> Someone, I forget who, made a suggestion that composers used
> a b.c. in A only out of ignorance.
>
> Mahler???
>
> Straus????
>
> Wagner?????
>
> Dohnanyi??????
>
> Not very ignornat guys, you know.
>
> =======================================
> Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
> Rosanne Leeson, Los Altos, California
> leeson@-----.edu
> =======================================

   
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