 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: andybrick
Date: 2017-09-15 18:59
Attachment: abrick_clarinet_question.png (85k)
Hi all, I'm a composer and have a question about a passage I am currently orchestrating. I would like the music in the attached pic (linked above) to be played on clarinet and I am wondering if this would best be suited for the Bb, D or Eb clarinet. I will have a top flight professional orchestra with a terrific principal clarinetist.
The passage is in concert pitch right now. The beginning is coloring a doubling in violins the glissando at the end breaks the double and presents the high clarinet as the focal instrument without doubling.
After the glissando, I am looking for an almost circus like sound. I was considering the Eb in a Klezmer context but am concerned that might be too brittle up on that concert C# so I thought about the D instrument. There are passages earlier in the piece for Bb and it would be convenient to not have to switch but I am worried its too strident up there.
As well, any advise on the glissando notation would be welcome. Once the player hits the concert A he may jump into the gliss if necessary.
Many thanks in advance for any advise.
Andy Brick
http://www.andybrick.com
andy@andybrick.com
917-327-0293
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Author: andybrick
Date: 2017-09-15 19:03
Hi, this is the update to the previous posting... Thanks again in advance for any advise you can share! -Andy
Andy Brick
http://www.andybrick.com
andy@andybrick.com
917-327-0293
Post Edited (2017-09-15 19:04)
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2017-09-15 19:10
I wrote this on your other post:
D clarinets are extremely rare and there is almost no chance that you will be able to find a musician to play the piece. Most Eb clarinetists are very proficient in playing in the altissimo register, so I don't think you have to worry about a high C#. However Eb clarinets are still relatively uncommon so if you can make the piece work on Bb I would ultimately go with that. A professional clarinetist should be more than capable of playing up to at least high G so range should not be too much of an issue.
Seeing the sheet music I would definitely choose Bb. The highest note would be an Eb (I think?) which is a relatively easy note. Also if you go with Eb the part will have 4 flats which is doable but often quite annoying.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-09-15 21:22
andybrick wrote:
> After the glissando, I am looking for an almost circus like
> sound. I was considering the Eb in a Klezmer context but am
> concerned that might be too brittle up on that concert C# so I
> thought about the D instrument.
You probably wouldn't get a D clarinet anyway - if you wrote for it you'd most likely get an Eb clarinet regardless. And it might for contractual reasons have to be played by the Associate Principal, who is often designated as the Eb clarinetist in major orchestras, and who would have nothing else to do unless you write more of a part for the Eb.
It would only be a written A#/Bb on an Eb clarinet, which is not brittle or even especially high.
> There are passages earlier in
> the piece for Bb and it would be convenient to not have to
> switch but I am worried its too strident up there.
>
I don't think this will be an issue with a good player. If you use a Bb clarinet, you'll get a moderately high but still very controlled D#/Eb, which is an easy note for a decent player to produce and might give a better circus effect.
> As well, any advise on the glissando notation would be welcome.
> Once the player hits the concert A he may jump into the gliss
> if necessary.
>
Depends on what you want it to sound like. If I saw the notation you have now, I'd be inclined to play a diatonic scale (probably G major) all the way up. If you want some part of it as a jazz (Gershwin) style slide, you might write the pitches as notehead cues (without stems) to the note where you want a slide to start, then the wavy gliss marking with "slide" or "smear" instead of "glissando." If you aren't particular, you can leave it as you have it and leave it up to the player and conductor. Not many players will be able to smear from low A3 to C#6.
Sometimes a straight line connecting the bottom and top notes is used instead of the wavy one. Someone else may have a more definite take, but I tend to read the straight line as a smear and the wavy one as fingered. I don't think that's a reliable distinction, though.
Karl
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2017-09-16 00:56
Before you present the finished piece to a "top flight orchestra", you might
check your spelling of "allegretto".
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Author: davyd
Date: 2017-09-16 01:48
If it's possible this piece might be played someday by an amateur/community/student orchestra, rather than a professional one, you should definitely stick to the Bb instrument.
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Author: Klose ★2017
Date: 2017-09-16 03:23
In most cases, the Eb and D clarinet parts are not played by the principal...
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-09-16 04:01
And it might transcribed for band/wind ensemble. I'd stick with Bb (but put it as an optional Eb cue).
~Robt L Schwebel
Mthpc: Behn Vintage
Lig: Ishimori, Behn Delrin
Reed: Legere French Cut 3.75/4, Behn Brio 4
Horns: Uebel Superior (Bb,A), Ridenour Lyrique, Buffet R13 (Eb)
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Author: andybrick
Date: 2017-09-16 17:10
Dear JDBassPlayer, Kdk, Chris, Douglas, Davyd, Klose, and ClarinetRobt,
Thank you all so much for the replies. They are very helpful. Ill stay away from the D instrument and go with the Bb. Karl, thanks for the tip about the gliss notation. I think Ill do the stemless noteheads and straight line as you suggest.
All, these kinds of resources are great for those of us that are inclined to write for all of you. Please accept my most sincere gratitude.
Kindly
Andy
Andy Brick
http://www.andybrick.com
andy@andybrick.com
917-327-0293
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