Klarinet Archive - Posting 000898.txt from 2001/09

From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Contra Bass Clarinet and Orchestra
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2001 21:40:58 -0400

The concerto for contrabassoon by the hornist and former head of the
Boston Conservatory, Gunther Schuller has a big contrabass clarinet
solo in it that actually is a duet with the contrabassoon. I played it
with the Santa Cruz Symphony. It was a disaster.

May you be spared the aggrevation of trying to keep in tune with a
contrabassoon in the lowest register of both instruments.

DAn

CLARK FOBES wrote:
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> I am playing BBb Contra Bass Clarinet with the San Francisco Symphony
> this week.
> The piece is "Choral" by Oliver Knussen. It is not particularly difficult,
> but the contra part does require some sensitive playing in some soft solo
> passages. Mildly rewarding as contra parts go. Someone in the section made a
> crack about my "artistic contra playing" and I responded that "I am writing
> the book". It won't be a very long book.
>
> Joking aside, I have begun to wonder how many works there are out there
> for Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Opera Orchestra or large ensemble (other
> than symphonic band) that require either BBb contra or EEb contra. I am also
> interested in concertos for the instrument. The only one that I know of is
> the Donald Martino Triple Concerto.
>
> Here is the list that I have compiled from my own performance
> experience.
>
> Knussen "Choral" - BBb contra - large ensemble
> Schoenberg "Five Pieces for Orchestra" (Contra Bass in A!) dbls on
> clarinet
> Elliot Carter "Penthode" - fantastic! BBb contra dbls on bass
> clarinet - large ensemble
> Henze "Das Verratene Meer" -opera. BBb contra. dbls on bass clarinet
> Corigliano "Symphony No. 1" - BBb contra dbls on Eb clarinet
> Piston "Symphony No. 3". EEb contra. * there is a solo in the 2nd
> movement that requires a bass clarinet to have a low Asharp
> below low C. This is generally played on the EEb contra.
>
> Any additions will be greatly appreciated!
>
> Clark
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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** Dan Leeson **
** leeson0@-----.net **
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