Klarinet Archive - Posting 000581.txt from 2001/09

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Recognizing what is on the page
Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2001 16:50:28 -0400

In a message dated 9/16/01 4:12:56 PM, klarinet-digest-help@-----.org
writes:

<< My instructor earns her living playing in several different environments
--- musical theater, classical on stage, teaching at public schools,
private lessons, etc. When I tried (still trying) to write a duet for
two Bb clarinets, and when I asked her to play the lower part with me
(lower on the printed page and also lower in pitch), she automatically
played gently. However I had imagined two voices playing separate
melodies with equal strength. I had marked the two parts identically,
and I had assumed that this would convey my intent.

Yet it didn't. She played gently and the upper voice became the
primary line.

I used the phrase "competent clarinetist" in my original question
because she's definitely competent and mainstream. So what would I
write to convey, at the very outset, to someone such as her what I had
in mind? Clearly marking both parts with the same 'mf' is not enough.

Based on Tony's comments, I added (in English) "Equal voices"; but deep
down in my heart, I know that this will make an experienced musician
chuckle at the amateurish style. Tony's point, of course, was that
this isn't usually done.
>>

You certainly could mark "equal voices" in the part. Or brackets as mentioned
before. Another thing that some composers do is clearly write different
dynamics in different parts to indicate what is more important. If you did
that between the two parts, when the dynamics were later equal it would
suggest that the two would be the same volume.

Another idea is to assign the parts "Clarinet A" and "Clarinet AA" rather
than 1st and 2nd. The idea being neither is the 'leading' part. This one was
my own idea.

However, now that you have some information about what a the instincts of a
good musician will tell you, you can adjust your composing style to
accomodate it. That is what is important. It is also why I wish that more
composers played chamber music.

David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------