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Re: Transposing Question

Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-09-06 22:10

You've got it sussed, Cindy. From a concert pitch part to Bb clarinet you go up a whole tone and you either remove two flats or add two sharps to get the key signature right. This will become instinctive after practice doing sight transposition, and worthwhile doing.

But in extreme keys, such as B major (and there are composers that write in this key), you will be better to go into Db major (which has 5 flats) instead of C# major (which has 7 sharps) when played on a Bb clarinet.

Though if the piece is in concert D, I'd instinctively transpose it up a minor 3rd into F and play it on an A clarinet. Concert B major would therefore become concert D on an A clarinet - as an A clarinet sounds a minor 3rd lower than concert pitch, the music has to be written a minor 3rd higher to compensate.

Even so, some pieces in flat keys are much easier played on an A clarinet - take the key of Db major again with it's 5 flats. On a Bb clarinet it'll be Eb major (3 flats) which will mean hissy throat Bbs if it's not feasable to use the side Bb key if the piece is fairly diatonic, and there's the C to Eb conundrum.

But on an A clarinet Db major becomes E major - 4 sharps - no throat Bbs and what would be C-Eb on a B clarinet now becomes C#-E, so there's no getting the pinkies mixed up if, like me, your brain isn't quick enough.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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