Klarinet Archive - Posting 000903.txt from 2001/06

From: "Rien Stein" <rstein@-----.nl>
Subj: [kl] sound of a windband
Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2001 18:41:20 -0400

Tony Wakefield wrote:

>>

Intelligently written orchestration can and does make a concert wind band
sound almost like a symphony orchestra.

<<

Tony,

Should a windband sound like a symphony orchestra? If so, shouldn't every
composer write for symphony orcgestra? In my opinion every type of orchestra
should have its own sound, and not try to imitate the sound of a different
kind of orchestra. Some people on this list are very puristic on the exact
instrumentation, even preferring period instruments. I remember the "other"
Tony (Pay) once made a remark that it is allowed to amateurs to play parts
for A-clarinet on a B-flat instrument, but only hardly so, and to
professionals it was absolutely forbidden.

I think you can use the differences between the different kinds of
orchestra. Many composers do. Even very fine composers do. When, say Danzi,
wrote for a wind quintett, he had no violins in mind, nor did he think of
the sound of a string quaretett. When Beethoven wrote his symphonies he did
not mean them to be plaued bu say a duo of flutes, he did want to hear the
strings. And so on.

And as to the rest of your posting: much of the specifically for windband
composed music does have interesting parts, and not only for clarinet,
whether you play first chair, or last on your instrument, even if you play
in such a low-level band as the one here in Maartensdijk. The challenge may
not always be in the difficulty of the notes! Otherwise we would all play
the Paganini capprices and that kind of stuff, wouldn't we?

Rien

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