 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-10-11 16:49
In our community orchestra, we frequently pick up arrangements that have been modified from the original to favor reduced instrumentation. We get stuff that has been arranged for "theater orchestra."
In our current "Valse des Fleurs" (Carl Fisher 15151-71, arranged by Chas J. Roberts) the first clarinet part is a "Transposition from the original in A). It has
has instructions that read:
"Play when only one 1st Viol"
"With Flute & one CL. play lower notes"
"2nd 1st viol"
This arrangement is in the key of D-Major; Bb clarinet is in E-Major, and A clarinet would be in F-Major.
This arrangement has the potential to sound quite nice, with rich horns and harp obligattos; but the Bb clarinet transposition is a finger tangler.
We had another last year that was a transcription of Saint-Seans' "Danse Bachanalle." It was really awful. The parts lay poorly on all of the wind instruments, and we had a rocky transition from the recititatavo introduction into the main body of the piece.
I have transcriptions of both of these pieces for clarinet solo with piano accompaniment; and they are not the same critters.
Can you comment on the merits of such orchestral arrangements. Are they cheaper than a full orchestra version?
Our orch is pretty complete. We have a half dozen each 1st and 2nd violins, a viola or two, 4-6 cellos, three horns, 1-2 bassoons (depending on high school graduations), 2 oboes, 2-3 clarinets, 2 trumpets, a trombone or two, precussion, keyboard (that plays the missing bass parts). We have no string basses, no tuba.
I'm wondering if we'd be better off with original arrangements.
your comments solicited and appreciated
thank you
Bob Phillips
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2005-10-11 21:45
I see nobody has come forward with tales from the community orch trenches
Bob Phillips wrote
>
> I'm wondering if we'd be better off with original arrangements.
>
Well, yes, but sometimes it's not that simple. We ended up playing this lame-o arrangement of Superman in which the arranger completely ruined the rhythmic underpinning of the piece. When I asked about it, the AD told me that the original was over $400. not feasible financially
Then we played the small orch version of bolero, and the solos were all in the wrong order, so we had to fix that. Plus, somehow the accompaniment did not build in nearly as pleasing a way as the original. so my parents in the audience liked the solos but weren't wild about the piece overall. I'm not sure how we ended up with that arrangement.
We play the original on the Nutcracker, though.
Post Edited (2005-10-11 21:59)
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-10-12 04:22
There is a tale that we "can't afford" the real arrangements. BAH!
Bob Phillips
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2005-10-12 12:52
Well, I dunno. I've had some experience with orchestral arrangements, and found that the "original animals" were invariably better that those "modern" alternatives that were purchased.
There is some merit in reading sheet music that wasn't produced in Russian in the original form, however. Some of the Russian stuff, with the weird mix of French, Italian and Russian used to notate the part, is a bit hard on the eyes.
The original Russian version of Russian Sailor's Dance is the only one that I 've seen the bass clarinet part in. All of the others that I've played seem to have been adjusted for the light clarinet staffing that many groups maintain.
As for cost, I use an arranger who does competent work for a per-printed part fee, plus extra charges for transposition and taking the arrangement off of a "lead" sheet. He does strings, although I've never used him for an orchestral part. If anyone is interested, drop me an email and I'll give you the contact information.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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