Klarinet Archive - Posting 000305.txt from 2006/10

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Tchaikovsky 6th Question
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 23:27:39 -0400

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gary Smith [mailto:gary622@-----.com]
>
> In my mind (and that of many conductors) it is a worthwhile
> substitution to make, as the part is very difficult for the
> bassoon to make with the required softness in what is a VERY
> low range for the bassoon. Our bassoonist (who is very good)
> was all for it. Purists will, as usual, be offended.
>
It's interesting - this is the argument that's always cited, of course. The
bassoon can't match the dynamic the clarinet reaches. Well, it's true that a
clarinet CAN play extremely softly on those notes, many players using so
much subtone that there really isn't much more than pitched air, and it DOES
say PPPPP! But Tchaikowsky knew and used the bass clarinet and so was
certainly aware of its dynamic capability, and he knew the capability of the
bassoon as well. Even a French style bassoon set up wouldn't produce the
kind of PPPPP that a bass clarinet playing subtone can manage, but
Tchaikowsky would have been well aware of that. He still chose a bassoon.
Assuming he cared what the music sounded like, the only explanations are
that(a) he wanted the bassoon to enter abruptly at a louder volume than the
clarinet (even though they are marked with the same dynamic) or (b) he meant
the PPPPP in the same way I've read Verdi meant it - to counter the tendency
of orchestra players in his environment to be lazy and ignore markings that
weren't extreme. The clarinet simply has to reach a dynamic the bassoon can
match - "issimo" needs to be determined by the bassoon. Which in my opinion
makes all the subtone that so many clarinet players value in that spot a
really questionable goal and the bass clarinet unnecessary. My 2 cents,
FWIW.

Karl

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

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org