Klarinet Archive - Posting 000151.txt from 2010/06

From: "Dan Leeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinet question on the Ibert sax concertino
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:13:46 -0400

The practice of writing for certain transposing instruments in the written
key of C major can be traced back to how composers wrote for transposing
instruments.

Originally clarinets were only in the written key of C and F. Eventually
the written key of G was accommodated.

Mozart, in giving lessons to an English student explicitly wrote this as a
rule in the margin of the student's workbook, and he wrote it in English.

Once one needed clarinets (or basset horns) to play in keys other than C, F,
and G, a practice arose that always placed the instruments in written C
major, with all of the accidentals that would be need for the key written in
the parts. So when Mozart writes for a clarinet in D majors, he write part
in written C major and then puts sharps on the notes C and F.

I suspect that, after a while, it became easier for the composer to write a
score with all transposing instrument in written C major, but with
accidentals added where needed. The saxophone, as a transposing instrument,
would fall into that category which may explain Ibert's practice for his
saxophone concerto.

Robert Levin and I wrote a paper on this phenomenon about 10 years ago. It
is in an issue of the Mozart Jahrbuch, and the referenced is, "1998 Mozart
Jahrbuch, pp. 139-152, "Mozart's Deliberate Use of Incorrect Key Signatures
for Clarinets"

It is not a universal practice but one does see it from time to time.

Dan Leeson

----- Original Message -----
From: "William Foss" <billfoss47@-----.net>
To: "The Klarinet Mailing List" <klarinet@-----.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 1:51 PM
Subject: [kl] Clarinet question on the Ibert sax concertino

> Yes, this is a clarinet question, even though the subject is the
> Ibert, Concertino da Camera for alto sax and chamber ensemble.
>
> I have just received a study score (LeDuc) and all parts are notated
> with a key signature of no flats or sharps - BUT it appears that the
> clarinet part is notated in Bb, the horn part is notated in F, and
> the Alto Sax part is notated in Eb.
>
> Can anyone tell me if this is correct (and if it is - why ? ) ?
>
> Thanks for any and all assistance/clarification.
>
> Bill Foss
> U.S. Army Retired
> USC Aiken, Retired Woodwind Professor
> Director of Bands, Aiken Prep
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Klarinet@-----.com
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