The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ngsea
Date: 2019-11-03 05:17
Just got handed the bass clarinet part for the Honegger "Pacific 231"...it's in bass clef!!!
Does anyone have a version of this part to share that has been written out already as normal treble clef bass clarinet music? and transposed to b-flat?
Thanks in advance....
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2019-11-03 17:45
I can transpose it (I think) for you if you send a really clean PDF copy.
Write off-line.
Post Edited (2019-11-03 17:45)
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Author: ngsea
Date: 2019-11-03 22:19
I know how to transpose music...if anyone has this already done for this composition, it will save me some time....
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2019-11-03 22:41
And if no-one responds, sent your return email address. Glad to help if you need it.
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Author: donald
Date: 2019-11-03 23:01
I've played bass cleff bass clarinet parts many times without having to transpose- just play the notes, you can be fairly sure that the part is already in B flat, and if not it's the orchestra librarians problem not yours.
Post Edited (2019-11-03 23:02)
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Author: Luuk ★2017
Date: 2019-11-04 16:58
'...the part is already in B flat, and if not it's the orchestra librarians problem not yours.'
Is that so? Where ends the responsibility of the musician? Why is reading bass clef musician's responsibility and transposing not?
Regards,
Luuk
Philips Symphonic Band
The Netherlands
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Author: ngsea
Date: 2019-11-07 01:20
I survived the first rehearsal of Honegger "Pacific 231" and have achieved some wisdom to share in perpetuity with the internet about the bass clarinet part, in case anyone happens to search on this in the future.
The bass clef bass clarinet part is indeed already transposed to B-flat, so the the only challenge is really to figure out how to adjust to the bass clef. That will be an interesting intellectual challenge over the next few weeks, but I want to point out that for this Pacific 231, the exact notes are of only secondary importance, since the whole thing is a really messy, clattering cacophony of sound...it a depiction of a steam locomotive realized for symphony orchestra. So, try to play as many of the notes that Honegger wrote for this piece as you can, but if you can only play the rhythms indicated, and do so with conviction, no one is going to notice. Just be careful to play the unison with the orchestra on the final note, a nice fat low E-flat.
;-)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2019-11-07 03:28
ngsea wrote:
> The bass clef bass clarinet part is indeed already transposed
> to B-flat, so the the only challenge is really to figure out
> how to adjust to the bass clef.
I've been a little confused through this discussion. Is the problem that you don't read bass clef? I wasn't sure why "transpose" was being used to begin with. There are composers who write their scores in concert pitch, but I don't think Honegger is one of them, and if he were, the soprano clarinet parts and horn parts would also be "in C" (at concert pitch). As you've already worked out, the part is already transposed and you only have to account for the clef.
It would probably be worth spending some time learning to read bass clef (if you don't already). I haven't seen the Pacific 231 part, but if wrong notes are as forgivable as you say, it might be a golden opportunity. If you're playing bass clarinet in an orchestra that plays difficult music, or almost anything by a French composer that has a bass part, this won't be the first time you run into this.
Karl
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2019-11-07 04:10
So, try to play as many of the notes that Honegger wrote for this piece as you can, but if you can only play the rhythms indicated, and do so with conviction, no one is going to notice
---------------------------------------------------
I wouldn't be too sure about that...
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