 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: jez
Date: 2006-08-01 23:25
I was recently given a pile of old clarinet music rescued from an attic or something. One book is the old H. E. Klose 'Clarinet School' a tome I have always been aware of but never really studied. On browsing through, I came across a fascinating page (100) entitled 'How to change the fingering on the same note' a device widely used in the Jazz fraternity and I believe occasionally used by string players to some effect but largely ignored by woodwind players.
At first glance I thought it was nonsense and wondered if he was referring to simple system, but soon realised that I was fooled by the fact that there is simply a mis-printed note or fingering in the 3rd bar. A lot of the rest makes perfect sense.
A couple of the fingerings strike me as being amazingly useful, notably;
C6...... TR 1-3 123D#
a wonderful sounding note which helps make a beautiful bridge between the top of the clarion and the lower altissimo. I could see myself using it in Rachmaninoff 2nd.
A5........ TR 1-3 --3
one I actually did use a couple of days ago; Schubert 9, 2nd clar. that little quote from Beethoven 9 in the last movt. I think maybe a help in those nasty repeated A's in Beet. 5.
If there's one in your attic dust it off and have a look.
jez
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: crnichols
Date: 2006-08-01 23:50
I never paid much attention to this page (it's actually on page 74 of my copy, the Carl Fischer/Bellison edition) before, and looking at it, this is something that strikes me as interesting. Notably, most of the alternate fingerings (which are tonally a little diffuse, you'll notice are most often forked fingers, which disrupt the air column more than the traditional fingerings) that he suggests here are on weaker beats or subdivisions , and the more traditional fingering takes place on stronger beats. I think this is yet another interesting way to subtly emphasize the rhythmic structure (especially in a slow movement). Plus, it's always helpful to have another alternate fingering for use when you need to alter the intonation of a tone to play in tune with others.
Christopher Nichols, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
University of Delaware
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2006-08-02 00:06
Ah.... the famous Klose alternate fingering page....
Both fingerings are interesting and useful alternates that can be used as another option in certain situations.
The C6 fingering in Klose is actually a variant of this C6:
TR x x x (Eb/Bb) / x x x (Ab/Eb)
The suggested A5 is related to the "1 and 3" Bb5 (TR xoo/oox) and is also useful variant of this A5:
TR x x o (C#/G#) / x o o
...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katrina
Date: 2006-08-02 00:59
FYI, this technique is frequently used in Bulgarian folk music too. It's used as an ornament on longer notes, and comes from the same technique used on the Bulgarian end-blown flute called the kaval.
Additionally I will occasionally use a "vented" long B for this reason in Bulgarian tunes. I open my LH first finger rhythmically while holding all of the other fingers required for B.
Katrina
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
