Klarinet Archive - Posting 000575.txt from 1998/05

From: Klar Boy <KlarBoy@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Re: [kl] C Clarinets, and mixups
Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 01:31:02 -0400

How do mix-ups happen? Easy, I had one tonight: It was church gig with
chorus, and we played several pieces from different masses and oratorios. One
of the pieces was a Mendelssohn excerpt which didn't specify which clarinet it
should be played on. The clarinet enters in the second bar, solo, and I
didn't check they key signature of any of the c-parts around me, which is what
is what I usually do when I'm not sure of the key of the piece (this is the
fault of the publisher). After the shock of the first note, I just added a
flat to everything and got to a long rest. It was only the rehearsal so very
few people noticed because I was quick to react.

Learning to transpose the half-step between the A and Bb is a crucial skill
for the orchestral player, especially if you do any opera work, where the
movements are often attacca and there is no time to change, or when composers
don't give us enough time to change (Mahler). It's not a skill I've mastered
and I was lucky that the part wasn't too complicated, but it is something I
like to work on. Also learning to play C-parts on the A clarinet can come in
handy (Ginastera Variations-Uugh!)

Ted Johnson tells a great story about Marcellus playing the opening solo from
the Overture to Kovanchina on the wrong horn, we can only imagine the scowl
from George Szell (they don't make 'em like that anymore).
My apologies If I put more than just $.02,

Mario Estrada
Florida West Coast Symphony

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