Klarinet Archive - Posting 000904.txt from 2001/10

From: Virginia Anderson <assembly1@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Band vs orch eefer range
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 09:38:03 -0500

on 29/10/01 9:15 am, EClarinet@-----.com wrote:

> I just don't know where people get the idea that band eefer parts do not go
> up as high as orchestral ones.

The caution happens in mass-market arrangements for schools, especially
those which used to be ranked A and below (do they still do this?). Those
AA and AAA (good high school or normal university) tend to use the full
practicable range of the instrument.

Of course, tasteful selection by the band director will knock out much of
those jobsworth arrangements in which the Eb is a makeweight. It might be
in the director's interest to let the eefer player double first when such
pieces come up. Although the Eb is the most noble instrument in the
universe, there may come a time when it doesn't make orchestrational sense
to have one (how, I can't imagine), so why write for it at all? One might
let the eefer player learn crocheting or do crossword puzzles like utility
players in orchestras, but the educational and recreational nature of most
bands prevents this.

One could revive the old-fashioned solo and first clarinet parts for band,
giving the Eb to the solo clarinettist when needed, but often the person who
will really take the time to study the Eb is someone who is good and likes
the spotlight but is not the best player. If the band repertoire warrants,
perhaps the Eb player could keep a nominal ranking as a 1st clarinettist
(kind of like Counsellor Troi in Star Trek, who went for 5 years before
coming out as a commander - oh, wow, my geek credentials are showing!), and
swinging into action on Bb when the Eb part isn't essential. Perhaps one
could have alto clarinettists double as well.

> I
> find that it takes just as much embouchure pressure to play an eefer's high F
> as it does to play a double Bb on the Bb clarinet, since you are effectively
> playing the same note.
<snip>
> Of course, it is never easy to play that high on eefer, and the throat Ab key
> helps a lot to get those notes above E out, but I find that I am most
> successful when I resist the urge to bite to get those notes, and just really
> voice them as small as I can.

My experience is the same. Although the embouchure is tighter, it should
not be painful or uncomfortable. If the high notes on Eb (as in Bb) come
with headaches, deep dents in the lower lip or (ick!) blood, then the
embouchure, mouthpiece, reed, and instrument intonation should be checked.
by "voice them as small as you can", Elise, you mean making it softer by
means of breath support?

Cheers,

Virginia

--
Virginia Anderson
Leicester, UK
<vanderson@-----.uk>
Experimental Music Catalogue: <http://www.experimentalmusic.co.uk>
...experimental music since 1969....

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