Klarinet Archive - Posting 000629.txt from 2000/05

From: Jcadie@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Bass Clarinet, Bass Clef in A Transpositions
Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 00:29:54 -0400

In a message dated 11/05/00 16:44:56, DGross1226@-----.com writes:

<<In a message dated 00-05-11 04:16:27 EDT, Janis writes:

<< I have to say I am getting much better at the A transposition. I used to
write the parts out but after writing out Rachmaninoff second symphony a few
years ago (it took me hours and hours), I thought I should just become better
at reading it. >>

Not necessarily. Several years ago I purchased a copy of a "professionally"
transposed and copied bass clarinet part for Rach II from Emily Bernstein who
at that time I believe was playing bass with the Pacific Symphony in Orange
County, California. I asked her why she had the part transposed, wasn't she
a pro? She replied that's why she had the part transposed. Pros aren't
allowed the luxury of making one or two "little" mistakes transposing down a
9th! Pros do whatever it takes to ensure as close to "perfection" in a
performance as possible. And don't even think about the cost of recording
studio time.

Don Gross

I only really partially agree with this statement. if you can get a copy of
a part then by all means go for it. As someone who has played "pro" If I
learn a part then I learn a part, i'm not going to make a mistake on the
transpostion. ( By that I don't mean that I don't make mistakes, besides you
can make mistakes learning things without having to transpose them).

That being said, you have to know your transpositions! I've been in studio
situations where people have had to read a part on the spot and transpose
when someone hasn't shown up. Things happen like that all the time. I also
had a friend who played with a major orchestra for a pops concert and wasn't
told the correct saxophone to bring and had to transpose the piece on the
spot. If you can't transpose then what are you going to do? I've seen far
to many sitiations like these. People don't always have the time to
transpose parts by hand or have someone do them. It's a painful fact that
transposition is a necessary skill for a "pro".

Janis
janis

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