 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2001-05-17 02:42
We have rotating conductors in my community band. The one who took over in early May moved the bass clarinet section from the dead middle of the second (of three) rows to the edge of the second row (on the conductor's right side)-- making the sax section scoot down. We're a long way from the clarinet section, which to the conductor's left.
Everyone says they can hear the three of us much better now. But it's weird to sit on the edge, though I'm glad to be out from in front of those blasting trumpets.
Where do the bass clarinetists sit in your bands? Inquiring minds want to know!
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Author: Wyatt
Date: 2001-05-17 03:45
Our Altos/Basses sit in the third row (where I proudly hold down 3rd Clar., last chair) center; behind the oboes(1st row) and in front of the French horns (4th row); and to the right of the Bassoons.
Wyatt
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Author: Ken
Date: 2001-05-17 08:46
We experiment with chair placement from time to time. Right now our one bass player sits in the second row from the conductor's right to left, horn 1, horn 2, bassoon 2, bassoon 1, bass clar, bari sax, tenor sax, alto sax 2, alto sax 1, 3rd clar, 2nd clar, 2nd clar.
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Author: Heidi
Date: 2001-05-17 10:36
Over the last ten years we've been moved all over the place. Currently we sit between the 3rd clarinets and the Bari sax and right in front of the percussion (it beats sitting in front of the trombones ANY day!)
It's nice to be near the clarinets, however, this arrangement doesn't allow for us to be anywhere near the bassoons. I guess we can't have it all, can we ? 
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-05-17 11:52
Second row between the 2nd clarinets and bassoons. This puts them right behind the oboes and in front of the saxes.
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Author: DLE
Date: 2001-05-17 12:06
It has changed over the years in Wind orchestra. We only have 1 Bass, and it is usually placed at the end of the 2nd row, on the conductor's right. But now that half of the orchestra have left, it is next to the 3rd and 4th clarinets in the front row.
DLE.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2001-05-17 13:57
In ours, I am in the second row. Counting from the conductor's right, we have 1st & 2nd bassoon, bass clarinet, about half-a-dozen french horns, third clarinets and second clarinets. The tenor saxes, until recently, sat between the bassoons and me. Every time the band gets rearranged, I end up in about the same spot. I was moved next to the clarinets once, but that didn't last very long.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-05-17 14:15
In the two wind ensembles I'm in, the bass clarinet(s) are right where Dee said, in the 2nd row center between the 2nd clarinets and bassoons.
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Author: Herb Kreinik
Date: 2001-05-17 14:58
On conductor's right,second row end, next to bassoons, behind flutes, in front of saxes.
We used to sit behind the 2nd clarinets, right in front of the snare and bass drum. Ouch!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-05-17 15:55
A VG thread, C H, Tks for the kind words, cl's are fun!! We [Tulsa Community Band] has a web site, "http://communities. msn/tulsa community band", however its not updated [we're lazy I guess] but the pics do show some of our latest seatings, but not the group pic! I'm the only BC and sit between bari sax [if he comes], otherwise tenor sax, and bassoon, in 2nd row behind [the many] flutes, in front of french horns and trumpets!!! Dwight Dailey, retired Tulsa U bands director, prof of cl and sax, sets and experiments with arrangement, to some extent dependent upon choice of music. Previously, I sat on outside of my row, I liked it better, for access, maybe played too loudly!!, and had communication problems with bassoon and tubas, so now is better for the band. Its interesting to see the variety of minor differences in arrangements. Don
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Author: Jun
Date: 2001-05-17 17:49
in my band...all the clarinets sit in the 1st row
the bass clarinet sit at the left of the 2nd row.. followed by the bassons and the oboes and then the flutes.....
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Author: francesca
Date: 2001-05-17 20:18
I've sat everywhere. I've been on the edge of the second row to the director's left. Usually I'm right smack dab in the middle of the ensemble. One year I got to pick where I sat and I sat near the tubas and then moved to the front row because I talked too much.
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Author: eilidh
Date: 2001-05-17 22:38
ours sit beside the third clarinets....our seconds and thirds are in the second row..........next to the alto sax......the conductor wants the bassoon beside him but he refuses to move!
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Author: Ken
Date: 2001-05-18 00:01
LOLOL, that's funny. Obviously Eilidh doesn't play in an active duty military concert band. If that bassoon player tried pulling that nonsense in my band, four guys would promptly tackle his a**, pick him up, chair, instrument, stand, folder and all and not so gently re-locate him to where the Conductor ordered!
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Author: LIZZIE
Date: 2001-05-18 01:04
The Bass Clarinet not plural @ our band..lol sits right next to the saxaphones and tuba and she has been "threatened" if she doesnt play louder that she would have to sit by the right side of the clarinet section (which is right by me cuz i am 1st chair) or the left side (which is right by the Bass Clarinets worst enemy) lol
soooooo i hope it all works out where you are and everything :-)
~lizzie~
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Author: Leanne
Date: 2001-05-18 03:39
In my band, I sit near the horns. It's fun because we can rush on marches a lot easier. During any other band function, I usually stand around waving my instrument in the air, trying to get attention because there's no spot for me.
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Author: Stephen Froehlich
Date: 2001-05-18 14:44
I've been playing Bass for some time now. I've been priviledged to ususally be in a strong section. I get the distinct feeling that placing the bass clarinets give conductors fits. The reason is that we play so many different roles. Sometimes, its 4th clarient, sometimes a baritone or bass part playing off the tubas, trombones or bassoons, sometimes tenor lines off the horns or saxes.
The most common arrangement in my expierence is second row, center, so we can be next to the bassoons, the bassoons next to the oboe, and the oboe next to the flutes. The biggest problem in all of this is where to stick the saxes and horns. This arrangement usually works well as long as the saxes can be placed reasonably close, which depends strongly on how many trumpets and horns you have. The other disadvantage of this arrangement is being directly in front of the trumpets, but that's another issue. Right now I'm about 50 feet from the nearest sax, which makes blending with them very tough.
The second most common arrangement I've seen is to but the Basses over with the saxes, on the outside of the third row to the conductor's right. I think the arrangement thing is worst in high school where the director has fits trying to get weak sections to sound, hence hijinks like risers and moving the trumpets and/or trombones up as far as possible, etc.
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-05-18 15:59
In the Texas City Com. band, the clarinets occupy the two rows to the conductor's right, while the bass is on the other side in front of the low brass. In the Alvin Com Band, all the clarinets are on the front row to the conductors left anf front. The second row (his left) starts with the alto, 1-3 basses, then me on contra, bassoon. He settled on this arrangement because he likes the ballance of low woodwinds on one side and low brass on the other. This seems to work well as some of the sites we play at don't have the best accoustics.
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 2001-05-18 16:48
This is and interesting discussion, I have always wonder where others sit, but never thought to ask. I sit in the same place as Heidi, between the 3rd clarinets and bari sax and in front of the percussion, however I have been placed all over the band and I like being next to the clarinets. I may move next to the bassoon player who is in his 80's and an excellent musician. That would put me front and center between the first clarinets and bassoon, maybe someone will hear me then.
SusieQ
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-05-20 04:43
in high school the bass sits on on the outside of the second of 3 rows, next to the 3rd clarinets, infront of the keyboard that plays bass.. the alto is on the otherside of the row, between second clarinets and oboes and in front of alto saxes, firsts are in the middle of the row
military band changes due to the number of people out at any given practice/show, or how much room is given to the band to play.. in rehersal we occasionally sit in the middle of the first row, between 2nd flutes and 3rd clarinets.. othertimes we sit back in the second row, between french horns, drums, baris, bari saxes.. just completely dependent on what time you walk into rehersal and where someone tossed your stuff =)
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