 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2008-01-25 13:17
Holst's "Mercury" is scored for clarinet in A. The third theme (between figs. III and VI for those who have it), though not actually difficult, is fiddly with all those fast clarion A flats and B flats. Is it common to transpose this section on the B flat clarinet? Much nicer playing it in D Major instead of E flat!
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2008-01-26 15:47
I can't answer your question. But I do think that it's a pity that we can't perform 'Pluto' anymore, now that it's been reclassified as a Dwarf Planet... ;-)
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2008-01-26 20:58
Yep, looks like Holst was right.
Some one will no doubt try composing "The Minor Planets" Suite for Small Orchestra. "The Kuiper Belt Objects" doesn't have the same ring to it.
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Author: BG ★2017
Date: 2008-01-26 22:14
It is definitely easier to play that portion on the Bb clarinet. Actually, Volume VII of The Orchestra Musician's CD-ROM Library includes the transposed part of the entire Mercury movement. If you are not familiar with that series, it is a must for an orchestral clarinet player, at least in my humble opinion!
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Author: MaDxClArInAtOr
Date: 2008-01-26 22:50
i've tried transposing that section during a rehearsal. you have more than enough time to switch between A and Bb for the exposed solo, but you'll pretty much have to transpose the rest of the part unless you can pull off another switch later during the pauses. other that that, you can also decide to drop a few bars when the melodic line is doubled by the entire orchestra... but playing it on the A isn't really that bad.
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2008-01-27 13:09
"I can't answer your question. But I do think that it's a pity that we can't perform 'Pluto' anymore, now that it's been reclassified as a Dwarf Planet... ;-)"
It seems that Holst was way ahead of the astronomical establishment. The Planets Suite ends with Neptune -- there never was a Pluto!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-01-27 14:59
Is it possible that Pluto hadn't yet been discovered when Holst wrote it?
Bob Draznik
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Author: davyd
Date: 2008-01-27 19:22
Holst wrote "Planets" in 1914-16. When Pluto was discovered in 1930, Holst was still alive, but had largely retired. He may simply not have felt up to the task of writing another planet piece. How would you follow 'Neptune', anyhow? Colin Matthews wrote a Pluto movement some years later.
Returning to the original question: it shouldn't matter whether you use the A or the Bb, as long as you do the transposition properly. Would it be OK to use a C or an Eb instrument? I dunno.
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