Klarinet Archive - Posting 000540.txt from 2006/03

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Transposed Parts
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2006 11:29:38 -0500

Laurence Beckhardt's question is quoted below: in my opinion the
tradition arose because of the financial implications of having
to own multiple clarinets. Many kids who studied clarinet in
Italy were from poor families. They could not afford two
clarinets so they bought either a B-flat with the extension to
low e-flat, or its range equivalent A clarinet. And then they
learned to transpose. Benny Amato played only an A clarinet at
the Met.

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

Can anyone explain the Italian tradition, until well into the
20th Century I'm told, of playing all
orchestral and opera clarinet parts on the Bb clarinet? Was this
done out of sheer arrogance?
Poverty? Machismo (who's the best transposer)?

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