Klarinet Archive - Posting 000321.txt from 2005/07

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Wind Band Music: Solo Clarinet vs. Clarinet 4
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 22:58:52 -0400

Roger,

Thank you for the information you provided. I am quite glad I asked the
question, this turns out to be more complicated than I had anticipated. The
Holst "Second Suite in F" is, indeed, solo, 1, 2, 3. The solo and 1st parts
are virtually identical, on the same stave of the score, in fact (at least
in the new Colin Matthews edition which mercifully corrects all sorts of
evils committed by Boosey & Hawkes).

The "Holst First Suite in Eb" (again the new Matthews edition) does give
separate staves for the solo and 1st part. I haven't gone through and
counted all the measures where the two parts are significantly different,
but there don't seem to be many. Clearly, Holst was sticking with British
Band tradition (and Boosey went one step further and threw in everything
except the kitchen sink). According to Colin Matthew's preface to the new
editions the manuscript vs 1948 Boosey scoring for clarinets was:

1st Suite (Manuscript): 2 Clarinets Eb (2nd ad lib), Solo Clarinet Bb, 1st
Clarinets Bb Ripieno, 2nd Clarinets Bb, 3rd Clarinets Bb, and Bass Clarinet
(ad lib)
1st Suite (Boosey): Eb Clarinet, Solo - 1st Bb Clarinet, 2nd Bb Clarinet,
3rd Bb Clarinet, Eb Alto Clarinet, Bb Bass Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet

2nd Suite (Manuscript): Eb Clarinet, Solo & 1st Bb Clarinet, 2nd Clarinet,
3rd Clarinet
2nd Suite (Boosey): Eb Clarinet, Solo Bb Clarinet, 1st Bb Clarinet, 2nd Bb
Clarinet, 3rd Bb Clarinet, Eb Alto Clarinet, Bb Bass Clarinet, Contrabass
Clarinet

Quite a difference. I've decided to go with Clarinet 1-4, myself. It was
good enough for Copland, it is good enough for me!

Just saying no to contrabass clarinets, bass saxophones and flugelhorns in
Holst,

-Adam

At 10:27 PM 7/27/2005, Roger Hewitt wrote:
>Adam,
>
>I have been librarian for a wind band for many years and have seen lots
>of diffierent arrangements and interpretations of the line-up.
>
>Holst Suites use Solo,1,2,3 as you say and 1st is not nearly as much as
>99% same as Solo, and often has extra cues for (e,g, 2nd Eb).
>
>Many modern arrangements have only 1,2,3 when Solo and 1st players will
>both play 1st (and 1st part is much more often divisi than 2nd or 3rd).
>
>If you look at the "classic" arrangements of Duthoit, Winterbotham & Co
>you usually get Solo, 1st (or Rep) 2nd, 3rd, but here you will often
>get Solo parts with divisi (and the lower part is usually crucial), yet
>other sections of music with 1st duplicating Solo (maybe at the
>octave). The other problem you get is that Eb parts are commonly
>provided on top - often divisi as well - although they generally double
>flute or oboe or Solo Cl, and any solos will certainly be cued in flute
>or Solo Cl.
>
>Some arrangements do indeed have 1,2,3,4 and these I would always
>allocated as though for Solo,1,2,3. The worst is when you get 3 parts
>labebelled "1st", "2nd" and "3rd/4th". Then you have to decide how to
>distribute and sometimes it will be best to copy the 3/4 part and label
>1 part as play upper notes the other as play lower notes. The worst I
>have seen, though, is a dumb librarian who gave solo and rep the 1st
>part, 2nd the 2nd, 3rd the 3rd and ignored 4th altogether!
>
>I suppose the bottom line is that most librarians will either look at
>the parts and do the best option or dish out all the parts and let the
>section sort it out for themselves.
>
>Just to throw a complete spanner in the works, I know one librarian
>(many years ago) who relabelled all parts (in heavy felt tip!) as A1,
>A2, B, C when four parts (=S,1,2,3) or simply A,B,C when three parts.
>This, he felt, removed any stigma from parts for "4th clarinet" and
>simplified the whole thing. Hmm.
>
>So what is my advice? Well best is really to do 1 (with divisi), 2, 3
>as this generally gets the most even distribution. My arrangements,
>though, do S,1,2,3 if I really want four parts or just 1,2,3, thus
>ignoring my own advice!
>
>Hope this helps ...
>Roger H

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