Klarinet Archive - Posting 000365.txt from 2005/06

From: Andrew Grenci <agrenci@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Basset clarinets are regular orchestral instruments
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 22:18:41 -0400

Adam,

Dan's comment, to which I originally addressed my reply was:

"The same answer could be given for the bass clarinet. Should one buy
the
low C b.c. even though the low notes are very rarely used, or should one
save money and buy the bass clarinet of traditional compass?"

His context seems to imply that bass clarinet uses low notes as "rarely
" as those are used on a soprano basset clarinet, and thus it is of
equal necessity (or lack thereof). That is not correct.

And my point in listing repertoire is not at all related to the country
of origin of the composers. It is related to when the works in
question became standard repertoire in orchestras in the USA and
elsewhere, thus requiring the availability of a low C bass for
professional performance.

In any case, my goal is not to deter Dan from trying to convince us to
buy basset clarinets. I think it is an interesting discussion.
Rather, I look forward to better reasons than a specious parallel to
the need for a low C bass.

Andy

Andrew Grenci
Bass Clarinet, U.S. Coast Guard Band
New Haven Symphony Orchestra

On Jun 20, 2005, at 9:39 PM, Adam Michlin wrote:

> 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
>

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