Klarinet Archive - Posting 000657.txt from 1998/03

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu>
Subj: Robert Howe and Happy Workshop
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 07:24:39 -0500

One final point with respect to this work and the light that it shines
on the question of C clarinet usage: Strauss uses 5 clarinet players
in this composition (and in its companion, the Invalid's Workshop).
Two play B-flat clarinet, 1 basset horn, and 1 bass clarinet. The top
line is played (or is supposed to) be played by a C clarinet. So here
we have a case of the composer chosing a C clarinet for the character
of its sound, and this decision is indisputable. Afterall, he could
have used 3 b-flat clarinets, but he does not. It's two b-flats and
a C.

In the Invalid's workshop, the matter is even more clear. He uses
two A clarinets, C clarinet, basset horn, and bass (in A). Strauss
was very much a man who knew what he wanted and if you do the work
with a b-flat in place of a C, you will lose a considerable amount of
the character of the clarinet quintet ensemble.

Great work!! I'm jealous.

=======================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
Rosanne Leeson, Los Altos, California
leeson@-----.edu
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