Klarinet Archive - Posting 000456.txt from 1998/02

From: Tim Roberts <timr@-----.com>
Subj: Naive question
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 13:52:40 -0500

I have an extremely n@-----. I hope someone will patiently guid=
e me
towards the Path to Complete Enlightenment.

I understand the existance of Eb Sopranino, Bb, Eb Alto, Bb Bass, Eb
Contra-alto and Bb Contrabass clarinets (and the octo-followups). Each o=
f
these is a sufficient extension of the range of the others that they make
good sense.

But A and C and D clarinets: what's the point? If the composer desires a
clarinet part which goes just a little too low for a Bb, why not just wri=
te
it for Eb Alto?

And, as long as I'm asking stupid questions, I've sometimes wondered what
the "normal" Bb clarinet is called. I've heard it referred to as
"soprano", but it seems to me "tenor" fits the pattern more neatly. Of
course, historical inertia probably has a huge effect here...
--
- Tim Roberts
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.
timr@-----.com