 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: csmith4796
Date: 2011-09-19 02:40
The switch from Bb to A clarinet in mvt. 1 in Brahms Symphony No 3 is so quick. Is your opinion to do the switch or stay on Bb and transpose?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2011-09-19 02:45
Start the symphony on A clarinet and transpose.
...GBK
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-09-19 05:59
The only realistic way to do what Brahms wrote is to use two completely separate setups - including a separate mouthpiece so you don't need to move a mouthpiece from the B-flat to the A. It isn't safe to try to move the mouthpiece - it's too quick a change and there are too many things that can go wrong. Using separate mouthpieces (and reeds) works alright for the first A clarinet solo in the exposition, but when I've tried it this way I've found that the chance of a slightly dried out reed when I went back to the A in the recap makes that solo uncomfortable (opinions might be different among synthetic reed users).
Most players I know transpose the intro onto the A, playing both solos on A (as written) and playing the rest of the movement on B-flat, including the part after the exposition solo, which means changing back again for the repeat unless you transpose the first time and change only for the second ending. I've also tried playing the entire movement on A clarinet until after the recap solo, then either changing quickly to B-flat during the short rest after the solo or later during the tutti section at L, which gives me a few bars at least to adjust to the B-flat and check its pitch before the 2nd movement begins.
Karl
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2011-09-19 20:04
This is one example of where it's better to play with a single barrel for Bb and A. No problem with the quick change in that case, because you don't have to worry about pulling the ligature off when shifting mouthpiece only. I don't have any objection to transposing as an alternative solution, but if you don't want to risk having a mental blank and messing up the transposition, doing what Brahms wrote is not too bad. If you thing that is a fast change, try playing Walton's Facade.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-09-19 20:14
The main problem with moving the barrel is that you have no chance to tune and, with the limited time you have for the change, you don't really have time to fuss with a predetermined placement where at least you *were* in tune when you rehearsed it. All you can do is stuff the barrel onto the A clarinet tenon and hope you're close.
This is probably a surer way, though, of making the change if you want to follow Brahms's directions to the letter.
Karl
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Author: Lam
Date: 2011-09-20 14:14
I watched the Bernstein/VPO video recording of the 80s, and saw Peter Schmidl play the whole work on Bb, including all the solos originally for A clarinet. Awesome, and very difficult too.
Post Edited (2011-09-20 14:32)
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