Klarinet Archive - Posting 000040.txt from 2004/11

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Insturmentation, balance and purpose of the ensemble; was,
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2004 23:54:01 -0500

This actually brings up a question that has been bouncing around in my mind.

One on a part wind ensemble instrumentation. It just doesn't make sense to
me. I realize the intention is to more directly replicate the experience of
chamber music and or orchestral music, but 3 clarinets players cannot
compete against a full symphonic brass section.

Compositionally speaking, orchestral music is generally designed around the
core string sound with the woodwinds, brass and percussion providing
contrast. Thus an orchestra can have a large brass section without doubling
or tripling the woodwinds. A wind ensemble has to rely on both the
woodwinds and brass to provide the core sound, creating for a balancing
nightmare when there are say 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, and only 3 clarinets.
One overbearing trombone player (never happens!) can easily bury a section
of 3 clarinet players.

Now, having heard some of the finest examples of collegiate wind ensembles,
my experience is they do successfully balance the brass down. Thus
defeating the whole point in playing a brass instrument (or so some of my
brass playing colleagues might say) and making for a rather wimpy but clean
and blended ensemble sound.

Any thoughts?

-Adam
At 11:33 PM 11/1/2004 -0500, Patricia A. Smith wrote:
>I have nothing against a standard uniformity of instrumentation. The
>problem I found was in the lack of innate balance in how the people we had
>were used. Four saxes, and often four trumpets completely overbalance
>three clarinets. I found, in my own

[...]

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