 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Musikat
Date: 2022-03-04 07:51
My orchestra is playing Bernstein's West Side Story Symphonic Dances and we just got the parts tonight. The situation is I am going to be playing Eb and we are bringing someone in to play 1st part (since I have an Eb and it is easier to find an extra Bb player. This is a community orchestra.) We have someone on 2nd and bass already. The 1st player won't be able to join us for most rehearsals and there are a lot of important 1st parts to cover. But I also really need to rehearse on the Eb!
Originally I thought I could go back and forth during the rests to cover key solos, but realized that is logistically tricky! Would it be possible or a good/bad idea to try to play them on Eb? How do I do that and will it generally result in a better or worse key signature? For example the section with 5 sharps in Bb would be more or less playable on Eb?
This is just for rehearsal to help the group. The second is brand new to orchestra and not confident enough to cover 1st and learn their part.
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2022-03-04 08:05
I kinda did that playing 2nd clarinet part in a Band but covering the important Eb parts (Holst's First Suite). Didn't have my Eb clarinet when I was there (Florida), so I wrote out the important parts and made it work. But, of course there often were times when both 2nd and Eb parts played at the same time (obviously). What will you do when that happens? As far as transposing, I wouldn't do it-- transposing C parts is my limit. When I was playing orchestrally I got myself a C clarinet. Good luck.
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Post Edited (2022-03-04 08:08)
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Author: Musikat
Date: 2022-03-04 08:10
Yeah, I'm usually OK with a half or whole step up or down (with practice!), but I'm fairly new to Eb.
Just to be clear, I'm wanting to know how to transpose the opposite from what you did. I want to play just the key sections from the Bb part ON the Eb so I don't have to try to juggle parts and instruments. Tutti parts I would just play the Eb part.
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2022-03-04 19:05
There is software that can do that quickly, Sibelius for instance. Get in touch, and maybe we can work something out. Or find a friend that knows Sibelius.
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Author: Musikat
Date: 2022-03-04 19:14
I thought of that. I think my friend has that software. I need to go through and mark just the parts that need it.
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2022-03-04 20:56
Print out both copies and Cut/Copy/Paste onto a single sheet of paper. I do that all the time to have one readable copy of all the parts. Sibelius also can change measure sizes and positions to make a neat copy.
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Author: hans
Date: 2022-03-05 07:20
FWIW, here is a link to a download for free music editing software: https://musescore.org/en
Hans
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2022-03-06 03:14
Sorry if this reply is too basic...Take the Bb part and slide all notes down 5 half steps. Adjust the key signature by adding one sharp (or remove 1 flat). A written C in Bb becomes a G on the eb.
Post Edited (2022-03-06 05:11)
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Author: brycon
Date: 2022-03-06 21:34
There are three main ways of transposing: 1.) aurally, 2.) recognition and analysis of scale degrees, and 3.) clef change.
By aurally, I mean that we have the pitch relationships in our ear and can move them around to various keys, as you might be able to move fairly easily the "Happy Birthday" song from C major to F major without much thought simply because the tune has become internalized after hundreds of repetitions throughout your life. This method, of course, isn't particularly helpful for transposing at sight.
By analysis of scale degrees, I mean that we understand "Happy Birthday" begins on the fifth note of the scale and goes: scale-degree 5-5-6-5-1-7. And if we know our scales, we can then begin on the fifth note of whatever scale we want and therefore transpose the tune to whatever key we want. This method, of course, isn't particularly helpful for non-tonal music.
By far best way of transposing at sight, though it requires the most patience and practice, is to use clefs. By being fluent in 7 clefs, you can transpose at any interval: alto and tenor clefs for 2nds and 7ths, soprano and bass clefs for 3rds and 6ths, and mezzo soprano and baritone clefs for 4ths and 5ths. Just by being fluent in the alto, tenor, and bass clefs, we can do most of the common clarinet transpositions (C clarinet on the Bb, C clarinet on the A, etc.).
Unfortunately, you most likely aren't fluent in reading in baritone clef. So it might be best simply to write out the part.
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Author: davyd
Date: 2022-03-08 07:57
Instead of going through all these complex gyrations: maybe find a substitute 1st who might not be as skilled as the regular, but could cover the part for a rehearsal or two? WSS Symphonic Dances is not exactly an obscure piece.
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