Klarinet Archive - Posting 000493.txt from 2002/09

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bb/A Conundrum
Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 21:59:30 -0400

on 9/22/2002 5:38 PM, Kevin Fay wrote:

>1) My orchestra has programmed Petruska for the next concert - the 1947
>edition. This is rental music, so my practice to date has been from the
>1911 version that you can buy off the internet.
>
>One of the tings done betweeen the versions was to use only the Bb
>clarinet on the later version, making a couple of passages much more
>difficult to finger. The clarinetist who rented the part before me (or
>perhaps many rent-generations ago) carefully photocopied a portion of the
>1911 version where the difficult passages were played on A, and inserted
>them into the part with tape.
>
Every rental part of 1947 Petrouchka that I've ever used had this insert.
It's a tradition. ;-)

>>>From the archives and other readings, I've gleaned that Igor knew and
>understood the sonic difference between the two instruments. Was this
>Stravinsky's artistic decision to do all of the piece on Bb (which,
>ideally, should be respected), or just a lazy copyist? You get to vote -
>let me know.
>
I think Stravinsky was most concerned with preserving his copyright. If,
along the way, he could give a pair of clarinetists unremitting hell for
16 bars, so much the better. I have tried to play that passage on Bb, and
can't reliably make it as smooth as I can on A clarinet - I play it on A.

For as much respect as I have for Stravinsky the composer, sometimes even
great composers just get it wrong. IMO, this is one such instance.

>(An aside - I will probably play the passages on A as they will sound
>better; just want to know how guilty I should feel.)
>
Play it on A - no guilt!

>2) My wind ensemble is currently playing a transcription of Malcolm
>Arnold's Four Scottish Dances, a nice piece (or rather 4 of them). The
>last movement is a finger-buster.
>
>I've played this work in an orchestra, though - remembered it as being
>much easier. Turns out that the arranger (a) kept the piece in the
>original key (a good thing for the oboe solo & horns), but (b) transposed
>the parts to be played on Bb clarinet, hence the technical difficulty.
>
>I admit it - I'm lazy. Yanked out the A and played the rehearsal. My
>section-mates think that I'm insane, but it lies better.
>
>The philisophical question - Mr. Arnold wrote this thing for A clarinet.
>Is it "better" to respect his decision, or go with the desires of the
>arranger? <BR><BR>(This ignores the question of transcriptions being
>sacriledge, but programming isn't my decision.)
>
>Again, your vote won't sway my choice, but affect the degree of guilt on
>my part.

Lazy has nothing to do with it. If the arranger wasn't smart enough to
figure this out in a helpful way, there's nothing wrong with playing it
on Arnold's original instrument choice.

BTW, I have no problem with skillful transcriptions - even in the
orchestra world, there are many, particularly of Bach for large orchestra.

Play it on A. Don't look back. (Well, except maybe to see if Dan Leeson
is gaining on you with his fire ax!!)

David

David Niethamer
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/

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