 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: hrvanbeek
Date: 2006-07-09 21:11
I've searched the archives for the answer but didn't find it...
At the point where the performer is left with just the mouthpiece & barrel (#19 - Presto), the instructions say 'the tone now produced will be Ab concert' and 'part written in actual pitch'. I'm interpreting this as 'sounding pitch'. If this is so, it is impossible for me to pull this off with with my equipment. 
What comes out of my mouthpiece & barrel is Gb and F (after covering the barrel halfway) concert/sounding pitch, which is of course what's written on the page...as Ab & G...
I can just eke out a Db (concert/sounding pitch) with the mouthpiece for the last note - a Db is written as the last note.
Am I reading too much into this or do I need a shorter barrel for this section???
I don't have a score accessible. I'm using a Morgan RM15 and a 66mm barrel.
Thanks in advance.
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2006-07-09 22:47
OK, I performed this piece and was royally confused too! I'm pretty sure that it is the sounding Ab and G that comes out in clarinet pitch, not concert pitch.
Simply blow and make sure to keep a high tongue position and then put your hand on the side and cover it up slightly for the G.
Last note: keep a very high tongue position and that right note will come up. I actually got nervous in my performance and my tongue position wasn't high enough for the last note and it sounded rather gross, but then I bent my pitch down an octave (ending on the note an octave below that I should've been on origionally) at the end to add a little flair.
If you play this through with the piano or band, you'll know if you're playing the right pitch. The Ab should be the 7th or something in the chord which adds the forward tension and the last note I think is the root if I'm not mistaken.
I played this about 2 months ago, so someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Just if you play it with the piano, everything will get figured out very fast! Good luck!
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2006-07-10 04:09
I remember running into this issue when I performed the piece last summer. It may be that there is an error in the score. Or it may be that the piece was originally written with a German system clarinet in mind with a mouthpiece that plays at a different natural pitch. Our solution was to transpose the band parts for sections 19 and 20 from Db to Bb. Since the band is mostly playing block chords and tremolos at that point, it wasn't particularly difficult. I remember that I did the piano score and gave it to the conductor. I don't remember whether he printed out corrected parts for the intruments that were actually playing or whether he dictated the corrections during a rehearsal. (I think it was the latter.) Also, I'm oversimplifying a little here but my recollection is that the open note is the root in both sections.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Brent
Date: 2006-07-10 13:08
Um...given the highbrow nature of this music and the importance of being serious and absolutely correct while playing it, i have to wonder--what does it matter? It's probably more in character if it is a little out of tune.
Please don't misunderstand--i've played the piece and enjoyed it very much. As i recall, though, none of the notes that i played with just the mouthpiece, or with just the mouthpiece and barrel, were very much in tune. In fact, at the very last note i intentionally let the pitch drop at the end for comic (well, that was the intent at least) effect.
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Author: hinotehud ★2017
Date: 2006-07-10 17:34
I have performed this piece many times with band and orchestra. I think the composer misunderstood the actual pitch produced. When I performed it, I transposed the accompaniment parts in that section down a step and it worked fine.
This is one of the few peices for clarinet where you are guaranteed a standing ovation at the end.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2006-07-10 18:04
Don't worry about the end. In fact the last notes are the correct sounding pitch if you play on a bog standard french mouthpiece. Anything slightly bigger will change the notes produced. I play on a 1010 bore and the last note is always flat, the previous bit is not a problem as your fingers do the hard work.
At the end of the day it's a visual gag and effect and audiences don't care if the note isn't quite in tune. They are generally laughing so loud that the last note can't be heard.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2006-07-10 18:32
Yup, I go with Peter on this one.........My Eaton Elite's mouthpiece just will never attain the last note. We felt that a whole tone or more low, was just too much, (not even funny) so my accompanist wrote a little modulation for her part and we ended up only 1/4 tone out at which point the other patient recitalists in the room all ran out to the interval, screaming and holding their ears. How often does that happen and then you still get the applause, eh?
Great encore piece ( or just before interval) which can be introduced, played and concluded in so many different ways. Done it 3 or 4 times now and different stories every time.
On another occasion I put bandaids all over a spare clarinet and stretchered it out at the end. Anyway, everyone to their own interpretation and humour.
Bob Thomson
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