Klarinet Archive - Posting 000410.txt from 2001/08

From: The Guy on the Couch <jnohe@-----.Edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Ab and C Clarinets
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 03:07:15 -0400

On Sun, 26 Aug 2001, Kevin Callahan wrote:

> I always see Bb clarinets used, obviously, and usually I see Ebs used too,
> but I've been wondering for some time, just what Ab and C clarinets are used
> for.

C clarinet is used in orchestral and opera literature, and is seen more
often in the Classical and early Romantic eras, right when the clarinet
was being established as a major voice...still, as a fairly new
instrument, there was no rule or guideline as to what key clarinets were
made in, and furthermore, because of acoustical deficiencies, a clarinet
could not play well in all 12 keys. You may have heard the phrase, "Write
in flats, use a Bb; write in sharps, use an A." This is general a
guideline composers use now, based on what seems to be the use in the
past. Throughout the Classical and Romantic eras, it was common for a
serious clarinetist to have three clarinets, one in C, Bb, and A, perhaps
for this reason, or because the composer wanted different tonal nuance.
While I have not heard a C clarinet, I would imagine that it would have a
different sound character than the Bb or A, since, depending on the
player, the Bb and A can have different qualities as well. (I'm sure Dan
Leeson may drop his word in here, as well.)

In the late baroque/early classical period, clarinets in D were also
around, and some of the first clarinet concerti were written for it. Most
of these were by a bloke named Molter, and were frickin high. Try to
imagine a Weber concerto but with everything written above high C. Yay.
*laughs*

The Ab, on the other hand, IIRC, was used primarily in clarinet choirs,
and written for mostly by clarinettist Lucien Calliet. You'll find a lot
of clarinet choir stuff written and/or arranged by him, and they always
come with an Ab part in addition to the standard Eb/Bb/Eb/Bb/EEb/BBb
arrangements. I think he also adds basset horn parts, too.

> Were they originally created by a certain composer just to turn the
> music world on its ear? Are they really needed with other instruments
> capapble of playing in the same range?

Back in the day, it wasn't a matter of range. It was a matter of, "My
clarinet can't play in four sharps because it doesn't have enough keys or
it plays out of tune in that key." That's a big part of it. And again,
tonal character.

> And for that matter, are Ebs really all that necessary either?

Oh sure - I think it's much easier to play a line in the clarion/lower
altissimo of the Eefer than try to play lines above altissimo G on the
Beefer. Imagine trying to play all the Eb clarinet lines (including the
ad libitum 8va line) in Copland's Outdoor Overture on a Bb! Kudos to
anyone who can! *laughs*

Hmm...hey, our usual Eefer player in Winds moved from Assistant Principal
to Principal in Friday's audition...I wonder if I get to go back to Eefer
this semester now! Woo!

J. Shouryu Nohe
Grad Assistant, New Mexico State University
"I think we have a ghost in our house." - Kaycee Nicole
"I should probably be playing Buffet." - Steve Moore

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