 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mikey
Date: 2003-03-07 15:04
We're playing Mahler 1 in orchestra next week and half of the symphony is on C-clarinet. I don't own a C-clarinet. Does anyone know of a place where you can purchase transposed parts? (I already tried Lucks Music Library)
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Author: ebasta
Date: 2003-03-07 17:46
you could always transpose the music yourself. it may take some time, depending on it's size, but that used to be the way it was done.
ed (i don't make my own soap)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-03-07 18:46
You may want to transpose it on your own. Sight transposing from C to Bb isn't too too hard. Read up one note and add two sharps (or take away two flats). So if the part is in C, simply take every note and read up one, and play in the key of D. (Ex: An F becomes a G. A B becomes a C#, a Bb, becomes a C). It's harder if there are a lot of accidentals or quick rhythms or jumps.
Or you could buy some manuscript paper and re-write the part that's in C for Bb clarinet like above. It doesn't take that long.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-03-07 18:57
A very important orchestral skill is learning transposition between Bb, A and C clarinet parts.
In the early stages, you may need to write out some of the more difficult passages until you get more comfortable and can play them at sight.
I would also suggest purchasing a recording of the piece and do a number of run throughs in the practice room with the record.
It gets easier and more comfortable the more that you do it.
Brass players routinely transpose, with some of their music requiring much more demanding intervallic switches (4ths, augmented 4ths, 6ths, etc...) than clarinetists.
As the old saying goes: "It's part of the gig." ...GBK
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2003-03-07 20:00
Yes transposition is a great skill that takes time to learn. For a while, you won't be really learning sight transposition, per se, but merely memorizing your part a step up. Still a valuable lesson.
Whatever you do, don't write the transposed notes on your parts. If you must do this, make your own photocopy (for study purposes) first.
Someone I know got rental parts for a symphony, and the trumpet parts had been thus marked. The first trumpet looked at them, and promptly fell off of her chair. Apparently, some time after they were thus marked-up in ink, Adolph Hersuth of the Chicago Symphony had come across the parts, and signed them with the comment "Learn your *&)@#$ transposition!"
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Author: JamesE
Date: 2003-03-08 02:35
Mikey,
I just finished transposing some clarinet parts from A and C to Bb. I used a program from Finale called NotePad. It is a music notation program that is free from their website.
You can set the page in the key of the A or C part, type in the notes, and then transpose to any other key signature. Works like a charm and prints a very nice copy too.
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Author: sömeone
Date: 2003-03-08 13:52
well
no one expected you would do that after so long of an advice
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Author: SusanB
Date: 2003-03-08 14:40
I am relatively new to symphony performance. I play the bass clarinet and I am sometimes asked to play bassoon or contra-bassoon parts. I still have to write out the transpositions on my own staff paper, but I am getting better at it. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Hopefully, soon I won't have to write it out and I will be able to just read it off the page, like the two Bb players do!
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Author: Stoops
Date: 2003-03-08 14:59
GBK wrote:
A very important orchestral skill is learning transposition between Bb, A and C clarinet parts.
Amen to that. I'd really use this time to learn your C transposition. It is a pain in the butt the first time around but an absolutely crucial skill to have if you plan to have a career in clarinet. Writing it out is ok but I'd rec. actually reading through the notes aloud before playing them. And I'd make sure to do that in rhythm (as slow as you need to go) with a metrenome and gradually increase the speed. Just like instrument practice.
I can't emphasize how important this skill is. I'd spend this time practicing your regular stuff (etudes, etc) with the C transpostion. You really have to immerse yourself in it. But once it's learned, it's kind of like riding a bike. You'll just need to refresh it once in a while.
And then you can go to transposing down and up a half-step. Woohoo!
Good luck!
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2003-03-08 23:14
I personally like using Finale to transpose parts. It's fairly easy to do and you can transpose from any instrumental part to any other instrument.
It is a chunk of change but worth it if you need to transpose music very much.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2003-03-11 16:28
Transposing is hard, but I agree with Larry that it is the most valuable tool a clarinetist can have in their arsenal. Then, no matter what is put before you in the way of sheet music, you can play it. Every director wants someone with that kind of knowledge and skill. It can make up for a world of other difficulties--like personality quirks, etc. If you're going to study music for the long haul you'll have to learn it anyway.
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