 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sab15
Date: 2009-10-17 15:09
Hi,
I'm studying Forlana from Finzi's 5 Bagatelles. I'm having a really hard time with Ref 2 measure 1 - the b flat to the left pinky c. Any tips on getting this movement to be smooth.
Also, this is necessary because of the movement from the c to the e flat (the 3rd note in that measure), but would it be totally inacceptable to go from right pinky c and roll over to e flat.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this.
Steven
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-10-17 15:22
Steven, Sliding to the Eb. Nothing is unacceptable if it sounds good and works for you. It may not be the most efficient way but if it works, it works. As far as going from the Bb to the LH C, try leaving your right hand down and see if that makes it easier for you as long as it doesn't make the Bb go flat in pitch, you may have to voice it up. Always try to keep your fingers close to the keys to help play smoother generally. The less motion the smoother you can play. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: William
Date: 2009-10-17 15:26
Play the Bb with the rh fingers already down plus the lh c pinky. Beyond that, getting used to it is simply a matter of repetitive conditioning (practice).
Bb4 RA 000/XXX + lh c "pinky" (should work, although I have not tested)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-10-17 15:29
A standard resonance fingering to improve the throat Bb is to put down the two ring fingers and the right pinky F/C. It's just a small change to use the left pinky, which you leave down when you move to low clarion C.
It's totally legal, moral and non-fattening to slide. German system players slide between clarion C and Eb for a living. A little nose oil helps. Get some lubrication by rubbing your right pinky over the area where your nose meets your face.
In fact, sliding should be something you practice. Watch a bassoonist's left thumb for a while and you'll realize that clarinetists have it easy.
You should also learn to make a quick change from right-pinky to left-pinky clarion C, which is absolutely possible in the Finzi.
Ken Shaw
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Author: DixieSax
Date: 2009-10-17 15:38
Of course the other alternative is to use a clarinet that has a LH Eb lever fitted. 
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Author: aero145
Date: 2009-10-18 22:35
Or just get a roller, like bassoons, Öhlers and many German Böhms have.
Ken Shaw - I am bassoonist too, and although you’re correct that our left thumbs have amazingly much to do, it’s much easier to slide between the speaker keys than F-Ab or C-Eb on a rollerless clarinet.
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Author: TonkaToy
Date: 2009-10-19 13:22
Like others have mentioned, keep the fingers in the right hand down. It makes the B flat sound better and it become, with some practice, no big deal to get to the left hand C.
However, why would anyone choose to slide from right hand C to E flat if it weren't absolutely necessary due to a composer or orchestrator who knew nothing about the clarinet? That's why god made two or more ways to play several of the notes on the instrument. I've spent almost 40 years trying to make the instrument easier to play. As a teacher once said to me, "you want to get the best results with the least amount of effort". I think sliding around needlessly falls into the category of getting the least result using the most effort.
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-10-19 13:43
You feel much less guilty if it looks like you were meant to do it, as with my Couesnon Monopole....
Chris
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-10-19 17:54
Here's what I might do to make this a little easier:
1.) Play your Bb with not only your RH fingers over the holes, but also the RH pinky on the F/C key.
2.) When you move to the C from the Bb, press the LH pinky F/C key while still holding the RH pinky down.
3.) Once you've got your LH pinky down securely, you can simply lift up your RH pinky and then put it back down again while releasing the LH pinky to play the Eb.
That way, you can easily make a smooth Bb-C transition, but you avoid having to make the RH slide.
You'll probably need to practice this maneuver slowly (as with anything else), but I think this is probably easier to make smooth and even than is sliding.
Post Edited (2009-10-19 17:59)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-10-19 18:42
On this cross fingering, I'm with Dixie Sax using a partial/full Boehm cl, since that and other "difficults" is a reason for its existence. On my Selmer RI FB, the Bb via the low Eb key [5th Rt L Finger touch] is well in tune and "more like" the tonality of the lower clarion notes than are most "pinch" Bb's even with resonance fingerings. My PM thots, [been there - done that]. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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