Klarinet Archive - Posting 000239.txt from 2011/03

From: Fred <vze2bsbs@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Prokofiev Sonata Op. 94
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2011 09:33:45 -0400

Here you go:

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

This sonata was written originally for flute and =

piano in 1943 and adapted for violin and

piano by the composer the following year. Thus, =

the idea of a transcription of it for a

woodwind with a range not far removed from those =

of the flute and the violin does not seem

out of line with the composer's own practice.

Although transposition to a slightly lower key =

would have had certain advantages, the

original key has been retained here, chiefly =

because many accompanists already know the

piano part. Consequently, numerous passages in =

the clarinet part had to be written an

octave lower than in the original. On the other =

hand, the clarinet possesses the advantage

of having a lower compass than those of the flute =

or the violin; it does not, like the

flute, become weaker in its lower register with =

the result that proper balance with the

piano is sometimes difficult to achieve there. =

Although it cannot match the brilliance and

airiness of the flute, it can contribute =

distinctive colors of its own. Just as the sonata

becomes, in a sense, two different compositions =

as played on the flute and the violin

respectively, it takes on still another character in this version for clari=
net.

One of the chief problems encountered in =

transcribing this work was the unusually

continuous nature of the flute/violin part. =

Additional rests were felt to be a necessity

for the clarinet, in order to provide enough =

opportunities for breathing and relaxing the

lips. They were therefore introduced at certain =

points where they did not seem injurious to

the musical effect=97for example, where the =

clarinet would simply have doubled a line in the

piano part or where it would have had unimportant =

accompanimental notes; in a few cases the

passage it would have played was transferred to =

the piano part: 4 measures before rehearsal

number [10]; at [19]; 3 measures before [30]; 9 =

measures before [31]; at [31]; 4 and 8

measures after [34]; 4 and 8 measures after [41].

Except for these small additions, the piano part =

remains essentially the same as in the

flute and violin versions. There are, however, =

certain editorial changes or additions that

need to be mentioned:

=95 Key signatures have been dispensed with here =

for two reasons: 1) the usual notation

involves a large number of accidentals (many of =

which are cancellations of the notes in the

key signature) and several changes of key, so =

that key signatures become almost more of a

complication than an aid, in reading the music; =

2) the uSe of them would have put the

clarinet in some less-than-ideal keys.

=95 Fingering, which was not included in any of the =

editions inspected, has been added

here=97with the knowledge that not all of it will =

suit all players, but with the hope that it

will nevertheless prove helpful.

=95 In some instances, notes printed on one staff =

have been transferred to the other to show

more clearly which hand can most conveniently take them.

=95 A few pedal indications=97especially for the =

sostenuto pedal and the absence of any

pedaling=97 are included.

=95 In some passages that tend to prove awkward, =

certain notes have been enclosed in

parentheses to indicate that if necessary they =

may be omitted without serious damage to the

effect, in order to reduce the difficulty of the passages.

Kent Kennan

At 09:35 PM 3/25/2011, you wrote:
>Dear list,
>
>I will be performing a solo recital next =

>weekend, and included in my program will be Kent =

>Kennan's arrangement of the Prokofiev Flute =

>Sonata. I have a photocopy of the clarinet part =

>from my grad school days, but when I went to =

>actually purchase my own copy, I could not find =

>it anywhere. So I bought the flute version so =

>that I could have the piano part (and own the =

>music). Does anyone know if Prof. Kennan's arrangement went out of print?
>
>The reason I am reaching out to this list is =

>that I am putting together my program notes, and =

>I remember that Prof. Kennan had written a =

>forward to his transcription of the piece. If =

>anyone on this list has a copy of the part and =

>has time to type out his forward, I would =

>greatly appreciate it, as I would like to quote it in my program notes.
>
>Jenny Hublin
>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>_______________________________________________
>Klarinet mailing list
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