Klarinet Archive - Posting 000940.txt from 2002/06
From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] New Thing
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 11:19:12 -0400
Absolutely not!! While it is partially true to suggest that clarinets
of a certain pitch were selected because of key complexities, it is
equally true to suggest that, once chosen, the characteristic sound of
that instrument was exploited by the composer. What you are offering is
a contemporary view of how things might have been, when in fact, there
is some evidence to the contrary. Specific clarinets were chose for
specific keys because those were the rules of clarinet selection, not
composer whim. There is even a little evidence that a clarinet was
selected because of its characteristic sound, though this is much less
definitive.
You write: "My impression is that they specified Bb or A or C clarinets
merely to facilitate playing in certain keys (especially with the
limited clarinets available in Mozart's or Shubert's or Brahms's day)."
That is an invented solution on one hand, and an opinion on the other.
It allows you to do just as you wish under the presumption that your
analysis about why specific clarinets were employed is correct, and I
suggest it is not.
Dan
Jim Franklin wrote:
>
> Dan,
>
> I understand and agree with what you are saying about each of the different
> pitched clarinets having a different sound, but I have to ask -- is that
> really what the composers wanted? My impression is that they specified Bb
> or A or C clarinets merely to facilitate playing in certain keys (especially
> with the limited clarinets available in Mozart's or Shubert's or Brahms's
> day). Don't you really think they wanted all of these clarinets to sound
> alike regardless of the pitch of the instruments? After all none of the
> other woodwinds changed to instruments in other keys.
>
> Jim
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Daniel Leeson" <leeson0@-----.net>
> To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 4:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [kl] New Thing
>
> > The issue is not do you need one. Some pieces are harder to transpose
> > than others, but one gets along. The issue is that the sound character
> > of an A bass clarinet is measureably different from that of B-flat bass
> > clarinet. If you recognize that, you may very well decide that you need
> > one.
> >
> > It is the very same problem that arises when one speaks about the use of
> > a C clarinet. Do you need one? It depends on what you are trying to
> > accomplish. If you don't want to transpose, you need one. If you can't
> > transpose, you need one. But if you want the unique sound of a C
> > clarinet, you need AND WANT one.
> >
> > On the other hand, if you think that the only thing that matters when
> > you play clarinet is to have the correct pitch come out, and that
> > nothing besides the pitch has any importance, then, in my opinion, you
> > need to rethink the purpose of multiply-pitched clarinets. They serve a
> > specific aural purpose and you should understand and either get
> > comfortable with that idea, or bring yourself to the point where you
> > say, "It really doesn't matter to me."
> >
> > Remember, the C clarinet does not need you. You may need it. Same
> > thing with an A bass clarinet (with the added problem that the
> > transpostion of A bass clarinet parts in the bass clef is a little
> > dizzying to learn).
> >
> > Dan Leeson
> >
> > "Pastor Luby D. Jackson III" wrote:
> > >
> > > What pieces are there where one would definately need a bass in A?
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Neil Leupold" <leupold_1@-----.com>
> > > To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 7:17 AM
> > > Subject: Re: [kl] Bassclar in A
> > >
> > > > Dan refrained from mentioning that the bass clarinet in A that was for
> > > sale
> > > > on eBay was formerly his, although I can't remember who bought it.
> Who
> > > was
> > > > selling it? David Borque?
> > > >
> > > > --- Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net> wrote:
> > > > > They are still available from Selmer (and maybe Buffet, too) but
> only on
> > > > > special order.
> > > > >
> > > > > DNL
> > > > >
> > > > > Ben wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > There was one for sale on eBay a while back, but I've never seen
> one
> > > in
> > > > > > 'real life'...
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Ben
> > > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > > From: "Jeremy Yager" <bomber@-----.com>
> > > > > > To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 11:33 AM
> > > > > > Subject: [kl] Bassclar in A
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Anyone ever seen a bass clarinet keyed in A?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Jeremy A. Yager -- bomber@-----.com
> > > > > > > NC State University -- Class of 2001
> > > > > > > Materials Science & Engineering
> > > > > > > Computer Programming and Web Services
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
> > > > > > > or klarinet-digest-unsubscribe@-----.org if you get the
> digest.
> klarinet-help@-----.org
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> klarinet-help@-----.org
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > ***************************
> > > > > ** Dan Leeson **
> > > > > ** leeson0@-----.net **
> > > > > ***************************
> > > > >
> > > >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Do You Yahoo!?
> > > > Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
> > > > http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
> > > >
> > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > --
> > ***************************
> > ** Dan Leeson **
> > ** leeson0@-----.net **
> > ***************************
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
--
***************************
** Dan Leeson **
** leeson0@-----.net **
***************************
---------------------------------------------------------------------
