Klarinet Archive - Posting 000637.txt from 2001/10

From: "Stephen Robb" <stephen_robb@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Band Eb
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 11:16:24 -0400

I noticed this post, as I too have played Eb in band. It does seem to have
a reputation for being "squeeky" and out of tune. In my experience, at
different times the Eb doubles or supports the Bb's, flutes, oboes, and
piccolo, and I have had to be alert to whom I am doubling or supporting, as
each of these instruments/players will have different tuning tendancies. I
have found that Vandoren WhiteMaster reeds give the Eb a fuller, more "Bb
clarinet" sound than the Vandoren Eb reeds.

It is a joy to play in a piece where the composer or arranger knows what to
do with the Eb--some of the Eb player's problems are derived from parts that
have been generated just so that the set has an Eb part, and sometimes the
orchestration of the parts make no sense or just unimaginatively double the
1st Bb's for most of the piece.

My two cents...

-----------------------------------
Donella Robb
stephen_robb@-----.net

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Virginia Anderson [mailto:assembly1@-----.com]
> Sent: October 16, 2001 6:06 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] Band Eb
>
> on 16/10/01 9:15 am, Josh <eliazor@-----.net> wrote:
> > What is the Eb real purpose in the symphonic band.
>
> As to bands, Josh, a lot of "generalist" band music merely has
> the Eb double
> flutes in case there isn't one (and, given dwindling music budgets, often
> there isn't one or at least one worth playing). Most music meant for
> university bands will have separate Eb parts, with cues in other
> instrumental parts should there not be one around.
>
> To combat the band leader's complaints that the Eb is too loud and too
> out-of-tune, you need to spend hours and hours with a chromatic tuner,
> learning to control the instrument at all dynamic levels. If you have the
> average school instrument you will probably have to find or make up
> alternate fingerings to bring problem notes into tune (all this
> took me most
> of a year at university level). In ensemble parts you need to adopt the
> colouration of the flutes (or other instruments which you double), to play
> within them and to support them, much as an orchestral second clarinettist
> does for his or her first.
>

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

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org