 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2003-03-08 00:04
Here's a simple question:
I just spent an hour on an Eb Clarinet (soprano, of course) at my local music store. This was my first experience with it. Am I right to assume that it's 'normal' written range (band or orchestral) is to high G, like a Bb? If so, is it occasionally asked to go higher?
For the record, as an eefer beginner, playing E, F, and G was tough! Fun, though.
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Author: AL
Date: 2003-03-08 00:23
High G is the "normal" high. ![[right]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie8.gif)
On rare occasions it may be asked to go higher.
AL
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-03-08 00:54
Even Mahler II (which my college orchestra is doing at the moment), the 1st and 2nd Eb only go to the high G. BUT, sometime's it's in unison... Select one with good tuning!
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-03-08 01:39
Question:
How do you get two Eb clarinet players to play in tune?
Answer:
Shoot one! (just kidding)
Good luck whenever you do Mahler
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Stoops
Date: 2003-03-08 03:50
haha! I've heard THAT one before
I have to play a piece this weekend with several (about a dozen) high G#'s in a row. Pretty gross....I guess it's the highest I've seen on Eb personally. Why bother?
I remember that Mahler bit. I think when I did it I had to finger it a half step higher. It's loud (and I didn't know what I was doing)!
Stoops
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Author: vin
Date: 2003-03-08 15:25
On Aaron J. Kernis's piece, Invisible Mosiac III, he asks for several altissimo Cs on the e-flat clarinet. Why anyone would want a sound like that I do not know but my head is still ringing two years later.
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Author: ken
Date: 2003-03-08 15:27
I never understood the mentality of some "band" conductors when it comes to incorporating the Eb clarinet. In the orchestra Eb parts are usually written with purpose; they represent a voice, color, they're soloistic and provide a theme. But in band, unless there's a specific solo or at least independent part the squealer is merely doubling the picc and 1st flutes. A complete waste of time, of wood and a body. If it was me I'd stick them on Bb and keep the Eb on the peg where it belongs until needed as an auxilliary part.
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-03-09 08:17
I always thought the normal top note of a clarinet was C7. The same applies to the E flat.
Notes above this are rarely called for, but if they are fingerings can be found at
http://www.wfg.woodwind.org
Go to clarinet then upper altissimo.
jez
Post Edited (2003-03-09 09:20)
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-03-09 10:14
Q: What's the range of an E-flat clarinet?
A: About 20 feet if you throw it hard enough!
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2003-03-09 16:02
Thanks, all. So, are there cool Eb parts in the band literature? If I get involved with this instrument, it'll probably be in a band; but doubling the piccolo doesn't sound worth it.
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2003-03-09 21:21
Mahler's 6th symphony has several high A's. The last movement is written for D clarinet and also has high A's so if you play it on the Eb you have to play a Bb.
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2003-03-10 18:25
There are some cool Eb parts in Wind Ensemble pieces. Like the English Folk Song Suite (I think).
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2003-03-11 01:09
Thanks for correcting my stupid mistake. So do the Germans really have D clarinets that can play high Bb's and B's or do they transpose¿ If they transpose why did Gustav write it for D clarinet¿
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2003-03-11 05:52
John Bruce Yeh of the Chicago Symphony was supposed to have told a friend of mine who was his student at the time that he (JBY) would not play an E-flat that he couldn't get a HIGH C!!!! out of.
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2003-03-11 18:18
So as a general conclusion, I'm going to take G6 as a 'normal' high note for an eefer. I just thought to look in a reference (duh); the Encyclopedia of Music Knowledge by Dr. William F. Lee says that the normal written range is to C6 and the 'Extreme' range is to G6 (and the Bb clarinet 'normal' is to G6 and 'extreme' is to C7.)
This reference and all your comments imply the same thing that I think I found out in my hour of playing: the Eb is more difficult to play high. Very roughly, a G6 on an Eb requires a similar embouchure as a C7 on a Bb.
I don't neccessarily require a response to this, for I will now dig into the archives on Eb playing in general.
Thanks, all!
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