Klarinet Archive - Posting 000133.txt from 2005/11

From: "KEVIN J FAY" <kevinfay3020@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Tchaikovsky 6th bass clarinet in 1st movement?
Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 01:30:29 -0500

Ed Lacy found me out:

<<<[In the Tchaikovsky 6th symphony, there is a passage scored to have
the bassoon play a low line in the 1st movement. My conductor (himself a
bassoonist!) asked me to look into how this is done when the bass
clarinet substitutes, as is commonly done.]

The last couple of times I have done this (I am the bassoonist), the
bass clarinetist, who had played in the first half of the program,
stayed for the second half solely for the purpose of playing these four
notes. As a bassoonist, I am very glad that it was done that way. I
have played the four notes on the bassoon, and I can tell you that it is
not a rewarding musical experience. In my experience, I at least am not
capable of entering on a low note at the low dynamic level that a good
clarinetist can achieve. If the bassoonist has to play it, I would
offer the principal clarinetist a couple of beers and encourage him/her
to play the foregoing passage a little louder.>>>

The principal bassoonist in my orchestra was (he he) at my mercy - but he
did pay the beers I extorted, chortlingly.

kjf

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