Klarinet Archive - Posting 000193.txt from 2006/01

From: "Lacy, Edwin" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] corni ma non di Bassetto
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 10:40:16 -0500


<<<In Beethoven's opus 71 sextet for 2 clarinets (see I mentioned them),
2
horns, 2 bassoons, in the second movement be calls for horns in B. Now
I know that in his charmingly Germanic manner he actually means Bb, but
which Bb? Is it meant to sound down a step like a Bb clarinet or down
a ninth like a bass clarinet.>>>

Often, parts for Bb horns will be designated "Horn in B-alt" (meaning
high) or "Horn in B-basso (meaning low). The high part would sound a M2
lower than written, and the low one would sound a M9 lower than written.
If the pitch level isn't specified, the horn player can often tell which
is intended by the range or tessitura of the part. Failing that, one
has to transpose all the parts back to concert pitch and see which
transposition results in the more logical chord voicings.

Ed Lacy
University of Evansville

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