Klarinet Archive - Posting 000101.txt from 2008/07

From: Martin Baxter <martinbaxter@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Once again, a C clarinet issue
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:24:44 -0400

Which C are we talking about? I have two narrow bore (Eb clarinet
size m'piece) and one wide-bore (Bb clarinet size m'piece}. They
sound totally different; far more than the difference between Bb and C.
Martin

On 10 Jul 2008, at 10:58, kurtheisig@-----.net wrote:

> HERE, HERE !!!!!!
>
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Daniel Leeson <dnleeson@-----.net>
>> Sent: Jul 9, 2008 11:00 AM
>> To: "klarinet@-----.org>
>> Subject: [kl] Once again, a C clarinet issue
>>
>> I wanted to comment on Sean's note in which he gives interesting and
>> important information about the three quartets for clarinet and
>> string trio,
>> a work published in two editions, one under the editorship of Dieter
>> Klocker, the other under the editorship of Heime Voxman.
>>
>> As part of his discussion, Sean indicated that he had recorded the
>> three
>> works on B-flat clarinet instead of the requested C clarinet. (I
>> don't
>> remember if Sean said that all three called for C clarinet, but
>> that is
>> unimportant to the point I want to make.)
>>
>> Knowing Sean remarkable performance capabilities and his skill to
>> transpose
>> from C clarinet with his eyes closed, I still want to dwell on
>> that matter.
>>
>> Even with Sean's outstanding abilities, there is one thing that he
>> is unable
>> to carry over in his performance on B-flat clarinet. Specifically
>> I am
>> referring to the unique sonic character of the C clarinet. On the
>> B-flat
>> instrument it will be melifluous and sweet to be sure, but it will
>> not sound
>> like a C clarinet, an instrument with a very unique voice.
>>
>> I don't believe for one minute (no matter what Klocker says) that
>> Mozart had
>> anything to do with these arrangements. My library is full of
>> things that
>> were arranged by performers and composers over the years
>> 1791-1850, almost
>> all of which are said to be arrangement BY Mozart (and found in
>> dusty stacks
>> somewhere). Some of the arrangements are very lovely, but I think
>> none are
>> from Mozart's hand.
>>
>> But this is the point I want to make: just because the three
>> quarters are
>> probably not by Mozart does not mean that we don't need to respect
>> the call
>> for a particular pitched instrument. It is true that the request
>> for a C
>> clarinet was based almost entirely on the key of the composition,
>> not on an
>> arranger's preference for C clarinet's sound, but that still flies
>> in the
>> face of what the arranger requested.
>>
>> There are many reasons for not using a C clarinet, but whatever
>> the reasons,
>> the player who choses not to use one even when it is explicitly
>> requested is
>> changing the sonic character of the piece to a considerable
>> degree. To some
>> that may not be an egregious error. To others, it is a very serious
>> usurpation of the composer or arranger's authority.
>>
>> Dan Leeson
>> dnleeson@-----.net
>> SKYPE: dnleeson
>>
>>
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