 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-05-26 17:58
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/arts/music/26CLEV.html
I thought some of you would enjoy the picture accompanying this article in today's NY Times about the Cleveland Orchestra's performance of Elektra (see link above)
I count 8 clarinets in the clarinet section.
In the spirit of "where's waldo," can you find a ninth clarinet in the orchestra?
Hint: look the the right of the oboes - I think that's a bassethorn.
First prize to anyone who can identify all the clarinetists pictured.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-05-26 18:18
Would be nice if we didn't have to register to see the photo...
Katrina
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-05-26 18:19
I think registration is easy - just some basic info, no fee.
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-05-26 22:18
Interesting article ... it would seem the Clevelanders enjoyed the noisy Strauss score a little too much, possible drowning out the singers? And why not, they're just decorative, afterall. (tongue firmly in cheek).
Personally I hate concert performances of opera ... staged version as so much better ... with obese 50 something sopranos pretending to be 16-year-olds dying of consumption.
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2004-05-27 00:17
Having performed Elektra, I recall 8 clarinets: two Bb's, two A's, Eb, Bass clarinet, and two Basset Horns. I haven't gone to the photo you have posted, but I'll bet what you are seeing to the right of the oboes is a Heckelphone.
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-05-27 05:28
No ... I'm pretty sure it's the Bass Oboe (Hecklephone) ... click on the larger view image and you'll see the bocal over the player's shoulder
Here is the complete orchestral requirements for this work.
Orchestration
8 First Violins
8 Second Violins
8 Third Violins
6 First Violas (doubling Fourth Violins)
6 Second Violas
6 Third Violas
6 First Cellos
6 Second Cellos
8 Basses
Piccolo
3 Flutes (doubling 2 additional piccolos)
2 Oboes
Cor Anglais (doubling Third Oboe)
Heckelphone
E-flat Clarinet
4 B-flat Clarinets (additionally 2 B-flat and 2 A parts)
2 Basetthorns
Bass Clarinet in B-flat
3 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
4 Horns
2 B-flat Wagner Tube (also 5th and 6th Horns)
2 F Wagner Tube (also 7th and 8th Horns)
6 Trumpets
Bass Trumpet
3 Trombones
Contrabass Trombone
Contrabass Tuba
6-8 Timpani (2 players)
Glockenspiel
Triangle
Tambourine
Snare Drum
Ratchet
Bass Drum
Tamtam (3-4 players for percussion)
Celeste (ad libitum depending on room in orchestra)
2 Harps (if possible doubled i.e. 4)
About 118 in the pit!!
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
Post Edited (2004-05-27 05:56)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-05-27 14:22
A heckelphone has a small bocal that is bent almost straight back. http://www.library.uiuc.edu/sousa/museum/heckelphone.jpg
When you click on the "enlarge this image" button, of the NY Times photo, you can see that the 6th clarinet player is playing bass and that the 7th and 8th players have basset horns, with short metal necks. Since diz's list shows "only" 8 clarinet parts, they're all covered.
Given that the natural seating position for the heckelphone player would be to the right of the 3rd oboe/English horn player, and that all the clarinet parts are covered, I think the other player really does have a heckelphone, and not a 9th clarinet.
At first glance, the photo appears to show a silver pipe sticking straight back almost over the player's shoulder. However, I think that's just the light reflecting off the heckelphone bocal. If you look closely, you can see the bassoon-style reed on the end of the bocal.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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