 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-04-28 05:58
Hi - those of you who have played effer in a concert band: what's your experience been? Are the parts challenging, are they more melodious than, say clarinet 2 or 3, are they boring? Let me know.
thanks
diz, Sydney
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2003-04-28 06:31
Because I own my own, I got shoved on Eb all the time in the Wind SYmphony when I was at the Queensland COnservatorium. The parts are definately challenging, but really fun, with lots of unisons with flutes and pic. Alot of the time I found there were alot of rests and it could get quite boring especially when they'd rehearse bits without me in it, then it would almost be up to where I enter, so I'd get ready and then he'd always stop. Grr!
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Author: sömeone
Date: 2003-04-28 09:16
i never had a second of boringness playing in a concert band, and recently i've been joining the states wind orchestra playing principal oboe. 2nd or 3rd clarinet sin't uninteresting at all, and i find them quite amusing, not too difficult but melodious.
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Author: CJB
Date: 2003-04-28 11:58
Had quite a lot of experience on Eb wind band parts mostly playing recent British music - the experience is quite variable depending on the way the instrument is handled.
If you are doing nothing but doubling the flutes/picc/oboe or the 1st clarinet line there is little point adding the Eb as the line will be deemed 'too dominant' however quietly you play. Where Eb is treated as an independent clarinet line, or added for colour on certain phrases the parts are really rewarding. There is a definite lack of decent parts in anything but the more challenging repertoire maybe if there were (with careful cueing onto other parts if an instrument isn’t available) more people would feel encouraged to practise on the little devil and it might loose the reputation of ‘always being out of tune/played badly’.
Sorry I’ll get off my soapbox now!
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Author: HAT
Date: 2003-04-28 13:02
Any time you can play in a large band and have your own part it is a good thing, in my opinion.
But your own part does not mean a 'solo' part, of course.
Many band eflat clarinet parts are afterthoughts.
Band, unlike almost any other large ensemble, has a 'set' instrumentation. If you want school bands to buy your piece, there has to be a part for every instrument. It's an unfortunate but understandable situation.
So sometimes parts are just added that double other parts. . so the kid who plays that instrument has something to do.
As I always counsel, if you play eflat anywhere, just don't try to play too loud, especially above the 2nd break. The characteristic sound of the instrument will project on its own. If you force it will just stick out (which some people think it is supposed to do all the time. . .I disagree) and will be harder to tune as well.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-04-28 15:27
I've only done a smattering of eefer playing (in both concert bands and orchestras) but it has NEVER been boring --- HAT is right on the money in his posting above, about a good approach to playing the Eb clarinet.
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Author: CJB
Date: 2003-04-28 16:41
HAT
Couldn't agree more - when faced with an 'after thought' part I frequently opt to add weight to the 3rd clarinet part or play alto clarinet if an instrument is available. I really dislike the sound you hear all to often from wind bands where the upper clarinet parts dominate the sound of the section the effect always appears much richer with stronger 2nd and 3rd lines.
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2003-04-28 18:13
I played the eefer in concert bands for 7 years, high school and college. When you have a part, it's usually challenging. More like the first clarinet/flute/piccolo than the second or third clarinet. And you don't have to deal with all the rivalry of a section which is cool. The best parts were from Wind Ensemble literature where the composers wrote in parts specifically for the Eb. Marches and orchestral transcriptions usually have okay Eb parts. But the orchestral transcriptions do have LOTS of rests. Get used to counting the measures. The worst is when the band plays one of those stupid pieces like medley-of-hackneyed-Broadway-show-tunes. (Why does every band director feel compelled to put this on the program!) Those pieces almost never have an Eefer part. Not that it's a great loss. I'd usually grab an alto sax part and play that if I was bored.
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Author: Carmen
Date: 2003-04-29 02:57
Im not sure if this helps any, but when I started playing Effer, I figured since the added air pressure and firmer embouchure i had to be way more intense while playing. Unfortunately, this caused breathing problems and made the intonation even more horrendous that it normally is on E-Flat Clarinet. So keep in mind that lots of pressure and a nice firm (but not pinching) embuchure are needed, BUT RELAX. Calm yourself and just let the air come out, it will sound and feel much easier!
Carmen
***...so do all who seen such times, but that is not for them to decide. All you can do is decide what to do with the time that is given to you.***
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