Klarinet Archive - Posting 000629.txt from 2003/10

From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass Clarinet etude book/solos
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 17:13:58 -0400

GrabnerWG@-----.com wrote:

> Stacy -
>
> The the stuff for bass clarinet and pull selective stuff for Bb
> clarinet. Use Klose, Rose etudes, Langenus Book 3, the Rubank Bach
> Violin and Cello Suites.
>
> For a solo do Weber Concertino.

It's a good suggestion Walter, but if the person playing it is going to
be accompanied by a piano, the fact that the bass clarinet is an octave
too low causes the piece to have problems by virtue of the fact that the
registers of the two players are so incompatible. You can't get over
the problems by asking the pianist to play its part an octave to low,
because then the piece sounds as if it is in a bucket of molasses.

In general, I find that putting an instrument into a range which is an
octave or more away from where it should be has an impact on the
character of the piece. It is as if you asked a tuba to play a piccolo
part (as is often foolishly done in Stars and Stripes Forever) and the
piece takes on the character of the hippopotamus dancing in Disney's
Fantasia.

Dan
>
> I tell my bass clarinet students that they can play on bass anything
> written for the small clarinet. (It's not REALLY true, but it does
> motivate them.)
>
> Walter www.clarinetxpress.com

--
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**Dan Leeson **
**leeson0@-----.net **
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