Klarinet Archive - Posting 000532.txt from 2000/05

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: wagner
Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 10:33:33 -0400

In a message dated 5/9/00 12:30:06 AM Central Daylight Time, Jcadie@-----.com
writes:

<<
<>

Sorry that should have read bass clef janis
>>
Janis...

Since the bass clarinet plays in the same register as the cello and the
bassoon, most conductors have felt that it should be notated in the bass
clef. This only makes sense, especially for the poor conductor.

Composers have been notoriously BAD about being consistent with this policy
though. Some Richard Strauss bass parts are in treble, some in bass, for
example.

Where it gets really confusing, is when because of the extended range of the
bass, the part soars way above the bass clef.

In Prokofiev's "Romeo & Juliet" there are several passages (already in a poor
manuscript) where you must count the leger lines on your fingers to find the
right notes.

In other instances, composers have opted for the treble clef. Now here comes
the rub! In the bass clef, the note is written in the actual octave that the
note sounds. Some composers, when going to treble clef, adopt the "fingering"
convention, where for bass, the note is notated one octave too high (plus a
step for the Bb transposition).

Stravinsky and Strauss, and I believe Mahler do this frequently.

Some composers, do not use the "fingering" convention and notate actual
octave.

So.....you're playing bass.....and you see a "G" above the treble clef. Is
this a clarion "G" (Thumb, register key, three fingers) or an altissimo
"G"????

Depending on the composer, and his method at the moment, it could be either.

I was playing a concert of all Spanish music a few years ago. DeFalla,
Turina, etc. etc.

There was one piece where for the life of me I could NOT figure out what
octave I should be in.

I finally consulted the conductor (won't name names here, but many would
recognize the name, as a second tier pro conductor). We huddled over the
score for awhile, and he couldn't figure it out either!

His instruction.......

Try it both ways, and pick the one I thought fit best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now...let's talk about those bass clef parts in "A". LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!

******************************************************************************
*****

Just one word of advice here, if you're going to play orchestral bass......

1. Get a low "C" bass - it's essential
2. Learn to read bass clef as well as you can read treble clef
3. Learn to transpose like a demon, "A" transposition and also "C".
4. Get the very best mouthpiece you can find.......

Then.....you too can sit and count measures, waiting for the ONE little
nugget of beauty tossed out by a non-attentive composer!!!!!!!

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
Bass Clarinet Mouthpieces......

yes, DN, yours is coming.........

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