Klarinet Archive - Posting 000414.txt from 2003/12
From: EClarinet@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] C-Clarinet Alert
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2003 12:24:27 -0500
In a message dated 12/2/03 4:16:56 AM EST, Forest Aten writes:
<< A C clarinet's value doesn't have much to do with "rarity". A person really
>has to have a place to use the clarinet. An orchestra would be one of those
>places...but often conductors or other players will refuse a player the
>right to use a C clarinet. I have observed this on more than one occasion. A
>second (and rare indeed) venue is in chamber music. A third would be in a
>jazz/popular setting....and a fourth....the practice room. Not very many
>people have a place to use such a clarinet. >>
I used to think the above was true, but not any more. I live in Central FL,
in a suburb of Orlando, which is not exactly a hotbed of culture. I play in a
wind ensemble in Brevard Co, which I have to travel over an hour to get to,
but it's worth it because the quality is so good. This same group has a
chamber winds group, and we just played the Brahms Serenade that has movements for
A, Bb, and C clarinets (we did the concerts for these 2 groups a week apart,
and had rehearsals back to back, so I ended up carrying FOUR different soprano
clarinets with me to rehearsals, as I was doubling on eefer on the wind
ensemble concert!)
I also play in a regional opera orchestra, and we use C clarinet in almost
every opera we've done. I haven't done a lot of orchestral playing, but when I
did, they managed to sneak in a C clarinet part every time! (Of course, that
was when I didn't own my C clarinet yet, and I had to transpose. We must all
transpose, right? No, I agree with Dan on this one....the C clarinet does NOT
sound like a Bb....it has a smaller bore, more like an eefer, and it's own
very definite tonal colors, so if there's a C part, play it on a C clarinet!)
Even if you don't have these opportunities, the C clarinet is very useful if
you've ever been in the situation where you have a woodwind quintet without an
oboist....the C clarinet can substitute, though of course, it is not ideal.
You can also play flute duets with your flute friends, if you don't happen to
play flute. And I have a friend who's husband is a piano player, and she uses
her C clarinet to play off of his piano/vocal sheet music with him.
Another possibility is to play all those pesky flute parts in broadway
musicals. I don't do this, as I'm a doubler, but if my sax friends can play
clarinet parts on soprano sax(!) and bass clarinet parts on bari and get away with
it, why not, if you don't play flute?
btw, I got my Ridenour C clarinet for less than half the price I thought I
was going to have to pay for a beautiful Leblanc Concerto C clarinet....very
affordable. At this price, there is no reason for clarinetists who already own
Bb, A, possibly eefer, and bass, not to get a C clarinet. Besides all those
horns, I also have an alto clarinet, as well as alto and tenor saxes, flute and
piccolo, many recorders and pennywhistles, and a keyboard. I am not rich, and
do not makes lots of money. I saved up until I could buy them.
Elise Curran
Orlando(Casselberry, really)
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