Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2010-05-17 01:46
Perhaps we should distinguish between the concert/symphonic band and the wind ensemble. The traditional wind ensemble, as conceived by Frederick Fennell, has a total membership of about 50. For the most part there is only one person on a part, although many wind ensembles (including the Eastman Wind Ensemble) have two clarinets on a part. In contrast, the traditional concert/symphonic band is much larger. In some of the great university symphonic bands of the past, I don't think it was unusual to have 20 or more B-flat soprano clarinets.
At one time, the number of saxophones in concert bands was limited. I think it's fair to say that many of the great university band directors of the past didn't care for saxophones (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). They'd use the absolute minimum of two altos, a tenor, and a bari, while they'd make sure to have four or five times as many soprano clarinets. Today, it seems as if saxophone sections are expanding while clarinet sections are shrinking.
To answer your question: For an 80 piece band, assuming that there is balanced instrumentation in the band, I'd say about 17 or 18 B-flat soprano clarinets, two basses, and perhaps a contra alto. How the parts are distributed depends on the skill levels of the players. If they're all very strong players, I'd have 4 or 5 on the first part, 6 or 7 on second, and an equal number on third. If you have a limited number of very strong players, I'd have a smaller number on first and more on second and third.
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