 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: suavkue
Date: 2010-05-24 21:36
So I'm a high school senior who just recently had to play the 1st Clarinet part of this piece. Some of you who have played this piece may recall the two repeating sixteenth note call-and-response parts with the soloist and the 1st clarinet, one of which is in Db major.
To be blunt, it was impossible for me to play this on (the school's) A clarinet at tempo. What I had to do was transpose the part to a Bb clarinet (making it C major - significantly easier) in order to get the part performed at tempo. Since this experience, I've had two questions:
1) Why would one write an A clarinet part in (concert) Bb major? The timbre of the A clarinet is not an extreme difference in comparison to the Bb's, so I don't see that to be a good reason (even though the A sounds "darker").
2) How does one manage to be able to keep the air flowing through the A clarinet in order to play such a passage? This year is the first year at which I started playing an A clarinet, and, despite my changes in equipment and embouchure, I still struggle with performing fast tonguing passages on the A clarinet (another example: March from The Nutcracker, with the flute on the sixteenth notes). I have, however, noticed an improvement in my Bb playing, but I still struggle with trying to achieve the same level of control on the A clarinet. (The A clarinet is a Selmer 10S, and the Bb is a Leblanc Soloist, if brands matter...)
I thought I might ask these, since I plan on majoring in music in college, and will probably run into this situation again. Thanks for any help.
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My current equipment:
Ridenour Lyrique 576BC, Rico Reserve 4, Ridenour Hand Finished Mouthpiece, Luyben Ligature
Post Edited (2010-05-24 21:39)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-05-25 03:09
The A clarinet does have more resistance than the Bb because of the longer length and bore size. Yes, the makes and models do matter which is why most players use the same on both, there are exceptions, I'm one of them recently. I used to have a set of Buffets but now I use a Bb Selmer. At some point you try to match the resistance as close a possible. If you like your Bb then you try to match an A as close to that feeling as possible. Bells and barrels help a great deal too, that's what I did to get the feel of both as close as I could but the A will always feel a little different. Why did Barber write it in A instead of Bb, maybe someone else knows the real answer. It could have been the tone color but it is strange to write something in a more difficult key when one has the choice in an orchestral piece, but he's not the first or only one to do that. That's why we often transpose some passages to make life a little easier, or in some cases, possible. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2010-05-25 15:47
If you're having that much of an issue with air on the A, it may have a small leak which would usually cause a bigger problem. I have a great Bb/A matched pair (Couesnons) and love playing the A and don't really feel much of a difference. Try having your school take it to a good repairman (and make sure it's a good one!), or have your clarinet teacher, if you have one, try the instrument.
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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The Clarinet Pages
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