Klarinet Archive - Posting 000049.txt from 2004/11

From: "Lacy, Edwin" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] Insturmentation, balance and purpose of the ensemble; was, Appealing to the superficial
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2004 12:38:28 -0500

<<<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.>>>

At the University of Evansville, and in fact at most other universities
having wind ensembles with which I am familiar, the one-on-a-part
concept applies generally to all the sections of the wind ensemble
except the clarinets. That means that there will be one player per part
in most instances, except that there will be two or three clarinets per
part, and probably one Eb soprano, two bass clarinets, and one or more
contra-alto and/or contrabass clarinets. In other words, our wind
ensemble director will have a minimum of 10 players in the clarinet
section. Sometimes he also will have two flutes per part.

With these exceptions to the general rule, I think it still qualifies as
a wind ensemble rather than a band of symphonic proportions.

Ed Lacy
University of Evansville

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