Klarinet Archive - Posting 000136.txt from 2008/05

From: "Rien Stein" <rstein@-----.nl>
Subj: RE: [kl] Bass in A
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 20:16:51 -0400

Dan Leeson wrote:

<<
The Mahler symphonies often require both B-flat and A bass, with one of =
the symphonies having a singer for the last movement. In that movement =
the bass
in A is called upon to play in a very awkward key signature, I think =
something like 5 sharps
>>

Maybe I have a somewhat simplistic mind, but I have always thought the =
number of sharps and flats should never pose a problem to pro players! =
And even to an amateur like me five sharps, the key of B-major, is well =
playably. I played the "Rhapsody on Dutch folksongs" by Geza Frid with =
a professional piano player.The tonality varies between five sharps (B =
major) and six flats (g-flat major), and she said, when she saw the =
piece the first time (my six flats were eight for her!): "I should not =
be a pro if these tonalities were a problem to me." (But she was absolutely
not apt to able tp transpose a semi- or full tone, what I think is
fundamental to any clarinet player playing in an orchestra!

Thus, Dan, what's the problem with you?

BTW I used to consider myself a very mediocre player. Four years ago I =
discovered I was better than average. There were a couple of reasons to =
revise my selfesteem, one of them being precisely this rhapsody. It took =
me nearly twenty years to master this piece completey, but of course I =
did make some progress in these twenty years.

And with Dan I completely agree that there definitely is a difference in =
the sound of A- and B-flat instrument. But as an amateur I cannot afford to
buy the full range of instruments, and even played horn parts, both in E
flat and F on my B-flat instrument

Sorry, Dan but that 's the way it is!

Rien!

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