Klarinet Archive - Posting 000513.txt from 2001/10

From: EClarinet@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: "softer, gentler" side to the Eb/purpose
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 23:43:46 -0400

Josh said:
<< thank you for input on the Eb. I mostly play in concert bands and sadly to
say the Eb is becoming and obsolete instrument in the clarinet section.
Today's conductors do not went them or bad excuses is not always in tune. I
just experience that most recently where the conductor told he no longer
wanted an Eb in band. The happens be a High School Band director and worst
I ever played under which makes it more frustrating for me. They also say
that the Eb is doubling the flutes.

What is the Eb real purpose in the symphonic band.>>

I have not noticed it becoming more obsolete, but it has always been a
problem to convince many band directors of the necessity of having one. I
think we have all had cases where we had to convince the director that he
needed to use the eefer, and in my case the directors have all been brass
players!

One of my students is playing eefer in high school now, and I asked why he
was not given the eefer part to the Persichetti Symphony for Band, and he
said the director (a trumpet player) said he didn't want it, it wasn't
necessary. I told my student to just bide his time, and when the director
finally realized that the eefer has solos that are not cued anywhere else,
then he would change his tune. Well, he did!

I think it is our job as clarinetists to know the literature well enough that
we can tell the director the difference between real eefer parts, where the
composer is using the instrument deliberately for its unique color, and parts
where the guy only wrote a part because his publisher told him to, and so he
just has the eefer double the flutes or 1st clarinets.

The following pieces, in my opinion, cannot be performed without the
important eefer parts: Lincolnshire Posy and almost all other Grainger,
Hammersmith and all Holst, any Copland or Bernstein (Outdoor Overture,
Emblems, Three Dance Episodes form 'On the Town', Overture to Candide, etc.),
Pineapple Poll, Suite of Old American Dances and Symphonic Songs for Band by
RRBennett, Suite Francaise, anything of Dello Joio, Symphonic Dance No. 3
'Fiesta' and other Clifton Williams works, West Point Symphony by Gould,
Danceries by Hesketh, most marches, and lots of other newer pieces that are
being composed by people who pay attention to the Eb clarinet.

Anyone care to add to the list?

The point is, we have to know our literature well enough to help the director
be informed, because few of them take the time to know those kind of details.

Elise Curran
Orlando, FL

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