Klarinet Archive - Posting 000681.txt from 2000/05

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Bass Clarinet, Bass Clef in A Transpositions
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 03:18:06 -0400

On Sat, 13 May 2000 23:43:40 EDT, Jcadie@-----.com said:

> In a message dated 13/05/00 13:31:52, Tony@-----.uk writes:
>
> > I think we're all happy that you improved your A transposition
> > skills.
>
> You're very rude.

All I can say to you is that my comment was intended to be a sincere
one. I know that in this medium you can often see sarcasm where it
wasn't meant, because I sometimes myself have that reaction. So, let me
assure you that I wasn't being sarcastic.

As you said somewhere else, you started off by being pleased about your
improvement:

> 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.

So as I said, anyone would celebrate that with you.

Don then said his bit about some professionals not being secure with
their transposition, and preferring to express their professionalism by
writing out a part. And after all, he's right, because being a
professional is not really to do with using any particular ability in
order to get a job done: it's to do with actually getting the job done.

Now, being someone who is able to get the job done, or not, obviously
depends on the context in which you find yourself. So, I'm a
professional in a symphony orchestra or chamber group, or playing a
concerto, because I know what's required in those contexts, and can
therefore get the job done.

On the other hand, my 'professional' behaviour, if someone tried to book
me to play in a jazz band, say, would probably be to suggest someone
else more appropriate. (But perhaps not. On one occasion many years
ago I found myself playing "Then you has Jazz" -- is that what it's
called? -- in the middle of a lightish concert done by the RPO, and
didn't do *too* badly on the 'stick with a lick'. Well, you know how
informal Dixie is;-)

If in one of the contexts in which I'm a professional, a bit of
unexpected transposition were to be required, I'd mostly be willing and
able to handle it. On the other hand if, as happened to me once, the
clarinet part for the Schoenberg Serenade were to turn up printed in Bb
with low Ebs in it, and the fact is that Schoenberg didn't specify which
clarinet he wanted it played on; then I would (and did) insist that they
*gave* me a part written in A. In fact, they had to pay to have it
written out for me.

So, as Richard said, it's horses for courses when we're talking about
what a 'pro' is. Well, he didn't say that, but it was the substance of
what he said.

> > Just don't tell us that we're doing something wrong, or are
> > necessarily unprofessional, if we prefer to have a part written out
> > rather than to practise our transposition. Or lay down the law about
> > what we 'should' be able to do, in order to have any self-respect as
> > musicians.
>
> Again, you're putting words in my mouth what is your problem?

No problem. Just that I had the impression that the above was what you
were doing, in the end. For example, I'd say you did what I described
above, when you said what skills "any good...musician should have":

> The skill of transposing things into different keys or being able to
> place something by ear in a "busking' situation are all basic skills
> that any good jazz, folk, pop or claasical musician should have.

..and that one of your "biggest gripes about classical musicians" (how
many of them? all of them? me? -- you see the point) is:

> if you take away the music than they are often completely lost.

Anyhow, perhaps I came on rather strong in what I said, and if so, I'm
sorry.

> > You can talk about your own experience, or *suggest* anything, of
> > course:-)
>
> What else am I allowed to talk about? i wouldn't want to do anything
> you disapprove of.

:-)

We can both say what we like, Janis, obviously.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE www.gmn.com/artists/welcome.asp
tel/fax 01865 553339

... I'm spending a year dead for Tax Purposes

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