Klarinet Archive - Posting 000228.txt from 2001/09

From: Clarguy3@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass clarinet in "A" in Schuller's Duo Sonata
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 04:43:27 -0400

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".
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 >>

Oh yeah, Walter--I not only play it but I recorded it with Floyd Williams
back in the 1980's somewhere and it was out on Crystal with a piece by Dahl
for 2 clarinets and one by Wolpe for clarinet and oboe. I transposed, but to
preserve the timbre of the A bass, I used a long b-flat instead of throat
b-flat--since that is where the distinction between A and B-flat is most
readily heard--a long-tube concert A-flat instead of a short-tube one.
Besides it made it smoother to used the low e-flat key.

I guess my philosophy was "any port in a storm." But it did work, and as I
remember someone wrote a nice review--but who ever believes them!

Chuck West

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