Klarinet Archive - Posting 000244.txt from 1998/04

From: "L. BORCHERT" <lborcher@-----.Edu>
Subj: Re: THE USE OF the A and Bb CLARINETS (1)
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 22:59:57 -0400

Just to "cloud the waters" a little more on this subject, I just finished
performing Copland's _Appalachian Spring_ in the original 13 instrument
chamber version with the El Paso Pro Musica. (For those of you on the
list that do not know this version, it is truly a wonderful chamber work
and it is quite different from the full orchestral version).
Copland wrote the clarinet part out for both Bb and A instruments
so the player has a choice as to which line to follow. It made the part
in itself difficult to read, and, except where the range down to low e was
specified for A clarinet, the player could choose either line. I did
switch back and forth between the two, depending on ease of playing and
also intonation. In at least one instance, I chose to play the part doing
the more difficult fingerings because the fast switch that was necessary
to go to the other clarinet did not give me sufficient time to warm it up
to A@-----.

Respectfully,

Laroy

Dr. Laroy Borchert
Professor of Clarinet
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003