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Klarinet Archive - Posting 000006.txt from 2004/05
From: "Dan Leeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Beethoven 9th
Date: Sat, 1 May 2004 10:18:56 -0400
I know the passage well, though I never really thought about the
issue that Karl brings up. I'd have to look at the key
signatures of the "before" section, the "during section" (where
they are not playing), and the "after section" to confirm that
their are no conflicts (such as something that would cause TWO
changes of clarinets), but failing that I can only conclude that
he was giving the clarinet players a rest.
Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Karl Krelove [mailto:karlkrelove@-----.net]
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 8:05 PM
To: Klarinet
Subject: [kl] Beethoven 9th
I'm playing a concert this weekend that includes a commissioned
premier by
Philadelphia composer Richard Brodhead and the Beethoven 9th
Symphony.
Rehearsing it reminded that there is a passage that I've wondered
about
through past performances of the symphony. I wondered if anyone
on the list
has any explanation.
The passage in question follows directly after the "Turkish
March" section
of the last movement (if you've played the symphony, you'll know
where I'm
talking about). After the clarinets finish playing there are 17
bars of rest
while the orchestra moves back toward D major, then 52 measures
with the
entire wind section and choir playing (and singing) the main Ode
to Joy tune
in D major with the strings playing a running scalar counter
figure (triplet
eighths in 6-8 meter) - all fortissimo, flat-out tutti --- except
for the
clarinets! We're the only ones on the entire stage counting
rests. What
follows is the slower "Seid umschlungen..." starting in G major,
where the
clarinets change from Bb to A. The preceding section (the D major
recap of
the main Ode theme) would have been perfectly playable on an A
clarinet even
in 1824, and there were 17 measures before it during which a
change from Bb
could have been made. Does anyone have any insight into why
Beethoven chose
to leave only the clarinets out of this section? Was changing
clarinets so
much more difficult in the early 19th century that 17 measures
wouldn't have
been long enough?
It's just one of those things I wonder about while counting
rests.
Karl Krelove
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