 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: graham
Date: 2008-08-04 11:38
Would there be any particular disadvantage to the bass clarinet moving from its usual position at the end of the clarinet line up, furthest from the bassoons, to sitting between the principal and the principal bassoon? The only one I can think of is where it doubles on third clarinet (for example), otherwise I would have thought that was a more sensible location.
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Author: marzi
Date: 2008-08-04 11:49
Our bass clarinet actually does sit between first clarinet and bassoon in our community orchestra, I think originally it had something to do with the bass clarinet able to transpose using bassoon parts? Not sure.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2008-08-04 11:52
Graham -
The woodwind principals often play together, in unison or harmony, and they often pass phrases back and forth. I think that's why they sit as close together as possible, with the non-principals off to either side. If there's a big duet between, say, bass clarinet and principal bassoon, it would make sense for them to set next to each other for that piece, but not otherwise.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-08-04 12:00
>>...it had something to do with the bass clarinet able to transpose using bassoon parts?>>
That would make sense if the bass clarinet doubles on Eb contra-alto. Eb contra-alto makes an excellent emergency substitute for bassoon if the difference in timbre is acceptable. The range is nearly the same and the transposition is easy. (Read the bass clef bassoon part as if it were treble clef and add three sharps or subtract three flats.)
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-08-04 12:02
Bass clarinet is an 'end of section soloist', just as the piccolo, cor anglais and contrabassoon specialists are - so think of your place and title of being an 'end of section soloist' as an important one as it is important.
Sometimes you will find it beneficial to be where you are (between the horns and clarinets) as for example, in R.Strauss 'Tod und Verklaerung' you are at various times in unison with the bassoons and horns, so to be sat in the middle of both sections and being able to listen to these other players makes for this seating plan ideal.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: graham
Date: 2008-08-04 13:23
It would be interesting to count up the number of clarinet/bassoon duets in the (bass clarinet inclusive) orchestral literature to see whether it exceeds the number of times it is important for the bass and bassoon both to unify ensemble and judge relative balance. I think the result might be surprising. But, come to think of it, getting in time with the piccolo is sometimes very necessary, so that would be a disadvantage of moving (unless the pic sat next to the oboe as well).
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