Klarinet Archive - Posting 000296.txt from 2006/10

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Tchaikovsky 6th Question
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 15:05:32 -0400

What Tchaikovsky wanted was of no interest to the conductors with
whom I worked that symphony. One can say that what he wanted was
explicitly indicated in the manuscript. But then you have the
normal supercessionist view of "well, we know what sounds
better." I'm not defending that only pointing out what my
experience with that symphony had been. The minute the first
conductor changed it from bassoon to b.c., then every conductor
felt that they had to also.

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Kantor [mailto:klarinet@-----.net]
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 11:06 AM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: Re: [kl] Tchaikovsky 6th Question

Dan,

Perhaps Tchaikovsky WANTED the change in tonality between the
clarinet and
bassoon.

Maybe he didn't want it to be "seamless" :-)

Curious as to when the "tradition" of using the bass clarinet for
these 4
(or 5) notes actually began...

Glenn B Kantor (GBK)

----- Original Message -----
From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:50 PM
Subject: RE: [kl] Tchaikovsky 6th Question

> Unfortunately, the use of the bass clarinet has become a
> "hallowed tradition," which is almost a sentence of death. And
> in many orchestras, the bass clarinet part MUST be played by
the
> bass clarinetist. It is generally in the contract, and this
> precludes the use of the 2nd clarinet player who, if he played
> it, would get a doubling fee.
>
> While I fully agree with Glenn that we should respect the
> composer's wishes, there are two things that support the use of
> the bass clarinet. First, the connection between the last note
> of the clarinet and the first note of the following passage
> should be seamless, and that is much more difficult to do when
> the clarinet leaves and the bassoon enters. Second, a bass
> clarinet can play much more softly in that register, which is
> generally the wish of the conductor.
>
> I have sat through many performances of that work only because
I
> had to play those four notes. Actually, I played five notes,
> because I would begin playing in unison with the clarinettist
on
> his last note thereby making the connection absolutely
seamless.
>
> Dan Leeson
> DNLeeson@-----.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Glenn Kantor [mailto:klarinet@-----.net]
> Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 9:37 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [kl] Tchaikovsky 6th Question
>
>
> If the conductor insists on using the bass clarinet to finish
the
> descending
> clarinet solo line, the 2nd clarinet player is resting during
> this time and
> has ample time to switch to bass clarinet.
>
> Of course, this all certainly begs the question - Tchaikovsky
> certainly knew
> of the bass clarinet and its capabilities, but he still chose
to
> have the
> clarinet line followed by the bassoon. Should we not respect
his
> wishes?
>
> Glenn B Kantor (GBK)
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Lytthans" <lytthans@-----.net>
> To: "Klarinet Digest (Mail)" <klarinet@-----.org>
> Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:02 PM
> Subject: [kl] Tchaikovsky 6th Question
>
>
>>I have a question regarding the use of bass clarinet in the
> Tchaikovsky
>>"Pathetique". symphony. We're doing it on the next concert, and
> I have
>>played it many times. I remember the bass clarinet, not the
> bassoon,
>>playing the last four notes in measure 160, at the end of the
> clarinet
>>solo, just before the Allegro Vivo in the 1st movement.
Several
> recordings
>>I have of the work use bass clarinet also, but I can't seem to
> locate a
>>bass part. I know the four notes in question are an easy
> substitution, but
>>I can't see the player sitting on stage for just four notes.
Any
>>suggestions?
>>
>> Jim Lytthans
>> Anaheim, CA
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------
-
> ----
>> klarinet-digest-unsubscribe@-----.org if you get the
digest.
>> Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc.
> http://www.woodwind.org
>>
>>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
--
> --
> Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc.
> http://www.woodwind.org
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
----
> Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc.
http://www.woodwind.org
>
>

-----------------------------------------------------------------
--
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc.
http://www.woodwind.org

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org