 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2010-08-22 23:23
Watched the Met Opera's telecast of Rossini's Armida today.Some fantastic clarinet playing in the ballet music. Question is which of the Met's principals was playing, and was he using a C clarinet?
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Author: William
Date: 2010-08-23 16:12
I thought that it was the general practice to transpose all C clarinet parts to the Bb ever since Herb Blaymann sat there--if for no other reason, intonation.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-08-23 16:21
Larry, did they show the clarinet section? If they did it should be obvious which principal was playing since they look a bit different. I assume they did not show the section. I was under the impression that most of the big opera companies owned, or the players owned, C clarinets since there are so many opera's using the C, especially the Strauss. I would be interested in knowing myself. If no one knows for sure in a day or two I'll e-mail Anthony McGill and ask him myself and let you know. Take care, Eddie http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: genekeyes ★2017
Date: 2010-08-24 01:45
Ed,
as you know, Herb Blayman and I were close for many years. To the best of my knowledge, he never used a C clarinet at the Met and I don't believe that he owned one.
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2010-08-24 02:38
"Larry, did they show the clarinet section?"
Thanks for your reply, Ed. I don't know whether or not they showed the clarinet section as I tuned in the broadcast in progress -- usually they only show the orchestra -- in part -- during the overture.
"I thought that it was the general practice to transpose all C clarinet parts to the Bb ever since Herb Blaymann sat there--if for no other reason, intonation."
William, a whole lot of things have changed in the orchestral world since Herb Blayman's days! I've discovered that the C clarinet can be played very well in tune with a quality instrument and an appropriate mouthpiece. Lots of the prejudice against C clarinets in the U.S. is just ignorance and laziness. When I was much younger American clarinetists were prejudiced against silver-plated keys, even though oboists and bassoonists would have nothing else. Maybe there were intonation issues with silver keys?
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-08-24 03:04
I just sent McGill a question about it so I'll let you know if and when he answers me. ESP
Here's his answer, "Hi Ed, I did play the Armida broadcast and yes I used a C clarinet. We often use C or Bb alternately depending on the passage and or opera. It does have a different color that is interesting and sometimes useful. Thanks and be well, Anthony".
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2010-08-24 13:46)
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