Klarinet Archive - Posting 000799.txt from 2002/07

From: "Tim Roberts" <timr@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: Conservative Clarinet Ranges: Well?
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 13:01:27 -0400

On Thu, 25 Jul 2002 16:39:28 -0700, Bear Woodson <bearwoodson@-----.net> wrote:
>
> No one will confirm if these Ranges are OK
>for Most Players. (*pout!*) Please advise.

Your lower end (written e below middle C) is accurate for all clarinets.
Many bass clarinets include eb, and some go to c an octave below middle C,
but that is not ubiquitous.

>1 E-Flat Sopranino Clarinet:

The E-flat clarinet is also called "soprano". The term "sopranino" is
reserved for the little G and Ab clarinets used in some Klezmer, middle
eastern and Asian music. Your range is fine.

>2 or B-Flat Soprano Clarinets:
> Small E (below Middle C)
> to F3 (3 ledger lines above the Treble Clef).

I would expect most high school players to handle F#3 and G3 without breaking
a sweat. I think of G3 as the top of the "comfortable" range. Several Sousa
marches include G#3 and A3, but that is as high as I have ever encountered in
concert band literature.

>1 or E-Flat Alto Clarinet:
> Small E (below Middle C)
> to C3 (2 ledger lines above the Treble Clef).

Fine.

>1 B-Flat Bass Clarinet:
> Small E (below Middle C)
> to D3 (2 ledger lines above the Treble Clef).

For a least common denominator, this is fine. I would expect most
sophistcated bass player to be able to handle down to c, but if you're going
after a wide audience, this range is safe.

>1 B-Flat Contra Bass Clarinet:
> Small E (below Middle C)
> to C3 (2 ledger lines above the Treble Clef).

You omitted the Eb Contra-Alto Clarinet (which has the same practical range).
In my experience (which is exclusively in bands, not orchestras), the contra-
alto is more commonly encountered than the contra-bass.

--
- Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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