Klarinet Archive - Posting 000219.txt from 2001/09

From: Floyd Williams <f.williams@-----.au>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass clarinet in "A" in Schuller's Duo Sonata
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 04:43:18 -0400

Walter,
Chuck West and I made the first recording of this piece in 1983 for
Crystal Records(LP-S355).Chuck transposed the bass part for Bb bass
clarinet,of course.
I saw Schuller before we did the recording(he was a guest at one the
University of New Mexico's Composers Weeks)and I asked him about it,but
his reply was a bit vague and I didn't want to push too much about it.It
was composed much earlier than 1976,1949 as I remember.

Regards,
Floyd

GrabnerWG@-----.com wrote:
>
> After some discussion on this list about duets for bass and soprano clarinet, I decided to un-earth my copy of the Gunther Schiller "Duo Sonata".
>
> I have owned this for over 20 years, but I confess to have never made it thru the piece.
>
> But, this morning, as I was reading through the bass part, my jaw dropped open!
>
> AT the end of the second movement, it is clearly notated, for both Bb soprano AND bass clarinet to "change to A".
>
> I turned the page, and the next movement starts off with both clarinets in the same "key". So, if the soprano clarinet player switches to his A clarinet, the bass player must also, or transpose.
>
> Now, I am no stranger to A transposition on the bass. I am however, more used to it in bass clef than in treble, so it took me a moment to orient myself.
>
> Now, here's the question. Why in 1976, would Gunther Schuller write a part for "A" bass clarinet? It makes no sense. As far as I know, bass clarinets in A are not made anymore, and those in existence are very rare.
>
> Now, according to Dan Leeson, I CANNOT perform this piece, since the composer clearly had the unique timbre of the "A" bass in mind, and I do not own one or know where to borrow one. (I'm being a bit humerous here, but lets consider the argument. In reality, I would transpose it and not give it a moment's thought, but this list is often NOT about reality).
>
> Have any of you out there performed this piece? What did YOU do?
>
> Walter Grabner
> www.clarinetxpress.com
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------

--
Floyd Williams
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
Brisbane, Qld. AUSTRALIA

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