Klarinet Archive - Posting 001125.txt from 2003/03

From: "Allan Thompson" <athompson@-----.za>
Subj: [kl] Correct instruments (was C Clarinet)
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 16:55:56 -0500

Reading the posts about playing works on the correct pitched instruments, I
can only say that I agree with those that insist on the instrument for which
the piece was written. I have just returned from a performance that included
the Rachmaninoff piano concerto no. 2, and the part they gave us (Kalmus
edition) was all in Bb. Not only was the solo in the 2nd movement awkward,
but the sound of the Bb did not sound as the A would have done (maybe only
in my imagination, but it did fell 'wrong'). I suppose I could have
transposed the part, but there wasn't much time to write it out, and I never
really did practise Bb to A transposition, particularly when the part is
infested with double flats. When I used a (borrowed) C for a Rossini concert
a few weeks ago, it was great. I have ordered my own, but it was just before
the Leblanc fire, and I still don't know if it survived the inferno or is
now a pile of ash and molten metal.

Allan Thompson

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