The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2022-12-14 18:40
Attachment: hammersmith eb excerpt.png (73k)
For those of you who have played the eb part in Hammersmith, how do you handle the attached solo part? In the original score, it is written for 2 eb clarinets alternating back and forth, but I have never heard or seen a band play it with 2 ebs. From the recordings I have listened to, it sounds like the eb player either sneaks a breath right before the 6/8 bar, or alternatively the 1st clarinet covers for a few measures to allow for a breath in the middle of the triplet mess.
I have so far been clipping the quarter note short and taking a breath right before Q, and I can make it to the end as long as the tempo does not drag.
Any thoughts? Thanks!
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2022-12-14 19:05
Some musical context to demonstrate the variation I have heard: I tried to make these clips all start right before the solo.
President's Own Band https://youtu.be/6osFgS_gDrs?t=520 No breath before Q but clearly two players covering the alternating triplets. This recording could be 2 ebs, the lower part sounds eb-ish.
Royal Scottish National Orchestra https://youtu.be/8JCaby-AP1M?t=524 Breath before Q and sounds like only one player covering the triplets
University of Michigan Symphony Band https://youtu.be/CwjX9R5BG34?t=542 Video coverage, eb player takes a breath before Q and also 1st clarinet covers for 2 measures in the middle of the string
North Texas Wind Symphony https://youtu.be/a68t7emmKhQ?t=528 No breath at Q, sounds like 2 players on the triplets. To me it sounds like the lower part is covered on Bb in this recording.
Post Edited (2022-12-14 19:09)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2022-12-14 19:59
Hunter 100,
Is there another player in the 1st clarinets that has an Eb clarinet and could cover a part of this string? Maybe handoff certain phrases which would keep the timbre going throughout the excerpt.
Making the phrase on one breath looks pretty tough.
Hank
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2022-12-14 22:27
All the 1st part players own eb instruments too, but I think if we went that route to split the part up, they might prefer to do it on Bb. Otherwise they would have to play only 6 measures on a cold eb in a very exposed section out of the 8 songs we have programmed on this concert. Although, the notes on Bb don't look very fun to finger that quick. I guess it could go either way. The concert is still 6 weeks away, plenty of time to work it out.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2022-12-15 02:08
Hunter 100,
"Six measures on a cold Eb..." sounds quite sinister to me.
HRL
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