Klarinet Archive - Posting 000461.txt from 1998/02

From: Dodgshun family <dodgshun@-----.nz>
Subj: Re: Naive question
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 13:52:45 -0500

At 02:36 PM 9/02/98 -0800, you wrote:
>I have an extremely n@-----. I hope someone will patiently guide=
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 of
>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 write
>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

The reason for A clarinets is just to make it easier for the player. For
instance, I recently played Peter and the Wolf. I had one copy of the part
in Bb and one in A; I photocopied, cut and pasted so that I was rarely in
more than 3 or 4 flats or sharps. It just means that you don't have to
worry about huge key signatures. Also, the A clarinet goes a semitone lower
than the Bb, and A clarinets are far more common and much easier to play
than Eb alto. =20

C and D I'm not sure about, because I haven't had much to do with them. I
guess it's for the same reason.

Anna

   
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