Klarinet Archive - Posting 000062.txt from 2009/11

From: "Clark Fobes" <claroneman@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Verdi clarinet and bass ckarubet parts
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:25:28 -0500

Well, had I known that I would rack up $74,583.29 fee to Dan Leeson I would
have never mentioned the whole C clarinet part thing. I will have to bill
him $74,584.29 for the footwork I am about to do.

I am not playing Othello, but I will try to make a trip to the orchestra
library to find out what version the orchestra is playing AND I will cite
the exact bar where the low D occurs. The parts are owned by the SF Opera
and are quite old, so I suspect that they are Ricordi parts.

BUT, as long as we are on the subject of Verdi and his orchestration AND
since Forest is in on the conversation I have a further point to consider
regarding Verdi and the bass clarinet.

As both Dan and Forest know, Verdi wrote some really gorgeous bass clarinet
solos (Aida and Ernani in particular). In at least these two instances Verdi
writes a descending line that if it were to continue to its logical and
musical conclusion would take the bass clarinet out of the range that was
possible in his day. Example 1. the opening statement in THE big solo for
bass clarinet in Aida. The final note of the introductory statement is a "C"
just below the staff, but it makes more musical sense to take that line to
the lower "C" which we now have on modern bass clarinets. I am of the
opinion that if Verdi had an instrument with that note he would have written
the solo to the lowest C and therefore I like to play it that way. Example
2. The cemetery scene in Ernani. At the conclusion of that beautiful aria
for the bass clarinet in D minor the last tone is a "D" just below the
staff, but if one were to complete the line to its logical conclusion one
should play the lowest "D" which is now available to us.

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