Klarinet Archive - Posting 000457.txt from 2004/04

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Eb part in Symphonie Fantastique
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 14:36:10 -0400


> -----Original Message-----
> From: donna@-----.com]
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I'll be playing the Eb part in the Berloiz Symphonie
> Fantastique in October and
> was wondering if there are any orchestral excerpt books for
> Eb that would
> include that piece? Is it entirely for Eb or does it also
> call for other
> clarinets?
>

This is something that has always annoyed me... Conductors that bring in a
separate person to play that E-flat part. The E-flat is contained in the
principal part. The last movement of the piece is for E-flat, the first 4
are for different clarinets- A, B-flat and C. The second part is just A,
B-flat and C.

FWIW, this is the perfect piece to make sure that you have a C clarinet as
well... The tonal difference of that instrument was chosen for
orchestrational reasons, not just key signatures (like in earlier classical
era music). When you hear the solo in the 4th movement played on C or the
blend of the E-flat and C in the last movement, it makes a HUGE difference
in the sound of the section. Berlioz was a smart person orchestrationally
when he wrote this piece.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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