Klarinet Archive - Posting 000103.txt from 2008/11

From: "Heinemann, Stephen" <sjh@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Re: Doctor Atomic
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:10:46 -0500

> From: "Dan Leeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
> Subject: Re: [kl] Re: Doctor Atomic
> Message-ID: <466233CBA8CB4142B21A766EF6C26323@danielsys>
>
> Thanks for you input on the matter of Dr. Atomic, Stephen. I was not as
> impressed with the music as you were, but I thought that its dramatic
> purpose was sensational. There was nothing wrong with the music, I just
> found it too angular. But it was the instrumental usage that fascinated me,
> particularly the use of what I think was at least one contrabass clarinet.
>
> Dan Leeson

I'm sure that you're right about the contrabass clarinet. More than one of
those seems doubtful in what was basically a chamber orchestra (more likely
that the microphone was too close to the instrument), but I don't have
firsthand knowledge of that. I also can't answer your original question
regarding the use of Ab or Eb clarinet, but a high A is not horribly
difficult on the Eb -- especially, I imagine, for any player in a position
to perform that part.

I like John Adams's clarinet writing a lot; it's no surprise that he was
once a very fine clarinetist. The parts tend to be angular, for sure, but
that doesn't bother me. His vocal lines are much less so -- they tend to
move in scale-steps. But this can be disorienting for some because his
scales usually aren't major or minor.

Good to hear from you, Dan.

Steve Heinemann
Bradley University

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