Klarinet Archive - Posting 000364.txt from 2005/06

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Basset clarinets are regular orchestral instruments
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 21:40:18 -0400

Andrew,

Your short list consists of 4 Soviet composers (well, ok, Stravinsky was
pre-Soviet Russia, but still...) and one German composer. I don't think
this makes the low C bass clarinet common (which, incidentally, was the
word Dan used; "significant" having a very different connotation) prior to
1950.

It is also perhaps interesting to note that 1900-1950 was a time when
players and conductors took great liberties with orchestration. Mahler and
Stokowski being the most well known conductors who would not hesitate to
reorchestrate seemingly at will. I wonder to what degree playing a low C
bass clarinet part on a low Eb bass clarinet was a hangable offense in that
day and age.

-Adam

At 07:20 PM 6/20/2005, Andrew Grenci wrote:
>Dan makes a good point regarding band rep. Much of that which uses the
>extended bass cl does date from recent times. But, I question his
>assertion that only after low C basses were placed in the hands of most
>players was there any significant repertoire written to use it. Quite the
>opposite seems to be more likely.
>
>The following is a short list, quickly compiled of major works by major
>composers which require written pitches below Eb. Note that all date from
>prior to 1950.
>
>Berg, Violin Concerto (1935)
>Prokofiev, Sym #5 (1944)
>Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet Suite (1936)
>Shostakovich, Sym. #6 (1939)
>Stravinsky, Petroushka (1911)
>Khachaturian, Piano Concerto (1946)
>
>Many more could be added if these don't make the point. It seems then,
>that a person buying a low C bass in the 1960's was rather late to the
>party, but it is true that many fine players did so. I would submit that
>what precipitated the purchase of a low C bass for MOST players at that
>time was the increasing popularity of such works as listed above with
>professional performing ensembles, leading to the professional necessity
>of owning the instrument.
>
>Andy
>
>Andrew Grenci
>Bass Clarinet, U.S. Coast Guard Band
>New Haven Symphony Orchestra
>
>On Jun 20, 2005, at 8:22 AM, Dan Leeson wrote:
>>I ask Andrew to place the compositions about which he speaks (namely lots of
>>use of bass clarinet with notes below the low E-flat in band music) in
>>chrononological order. I also have noticed that low D is a requirement on
>>at least one Sousa march, but I suspect that his claim of lots of low D,
>>D-flat, and C in his contemporary band concerts may include recently written
>>repertoire; i.e. since ca. 1960 or even later. And if that is true, then it
>>seems that composers writing for a low C bass is a recent development, one
>>that arose only when the low C bass became more common.
>>
>>I bought my low C bass in Paris when I lived there (paid $250 for it with
>>case but no mouthpiece). But those instruments were not yet off the shelf.
>>Ordinary bass clarinets were, but low C basses were a special order with a
>>few months wait. That was in 1963.
>>
>>Without having done the research to sustain this point, I question the
>>ordinary use of what are now low C bass clarinet notes, before ca. 1950.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org