Klarinet Archive - Posting 000615.txt from 2003/09

From: "Musician" <musicians@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Re; Francaix now Timbre
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 16:57:08 -0400

AnneLenoir@-----.net (Anne Lenoir)
Subject: Re: [kl] re: Francaix Concerto
Message-ID:
<3434-3F6F1EDC-1965@-----.net>

Now I am confused. If it was originally written for A clarinet, but
now
is played on Bb, because more people could play it on Bb, yet some
people think it's easier on A, but it turned out to be easier on Bb
after all. I heard and felt the beginnings of an argument about "what
the composer wanted" because of the "timbre" of the A clarinet, or was
it Bb? I can't remember. It seems like, at a contest, that a
contestant
should be allowed to play it on either clarinet? Where's the beef?
ANNIE

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The Timbre is of the notes being played on the Clarinet in regards to
the Fingerings used, not to Instrument used. An A played on A Clarinet
and an A played on Bb Clarinet still sounds to me like an A, not a G
or Gb Concert.

So the first note of the Francaix being a C Sharp on A Clarinet should
sound like a C#, not a C on Bb Clarinet.

I would also guess that the knowledge of the Clarinet asto the
Composer knowing the instrument would have a bearing on it too. If the
composer didn't know the instrument asto Timbre, than it wouldn't
matter much as the Composer would be going on pitch alone and not the
Timbre of the individual notes.

On the SmartMusic program I tried transposing the Piano to Bb Clarinet
to play around with the Nielsen Concerto (didn't have my A out and was
playing around with the program) and the pitch drove me nuts. It made
a huge sound difference to me and I only have perfect relative pitch
for the Clarinet (not perfect pitch for the Piano). Still it didn't
sound right to me with the piano alone.

David B.

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