Klarinet Archive - Posting 000444.txt from 2003/04

From: Gary Truesdail <gir@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] C clarinet weirdness
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:36:20 -0400

My original posting regarding the clef of bass clarinet parts was a
tongue-in-cheek comment. Being a doubler I realize there are a lot of players
out there that would freak out if they were given a part in bass clef. It has,
however, brought forth some interesting and worthwhile comments. I was
attempting to explain my feeling regarding reading treble clef parts while
playing a bass clef range instrument. While arranging clarinet quartets is
easier for me to see the range and voicings of all 4 instruments if the bass
clarinet part is in the bass cleff, just like an old Bach choral, soprano, alto,
tenor, bass. On score paper it just seems to work out better. This could be
related to my preference for non-transposed scores. It is easier to solve note
problems that came from a copyist or somewhere in the publishing process.

Regarding some the comments:
1. there is an orchestral piece that had a movable cleff in the bass clarinet
part. Does anyone know which piece it is?

2. If a player cant read bass clef he/she should probably not audition for a
symphonic orchestral job or have fast pencils handy.

GaryT

Joseph Wakeling wrote:

> I should probably apologise to Gary for an overreaction. But still I
> think it very inappropriate to say that bass clarinet parts "just shouldn't"
> be written in treble clef.

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