 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: EbClarinet
Date: 2022-12-26 02:43
I've seen online and have heard about orchestral excerpts for Bb bass clarinet an Eb clarinet. Yet, I've been told the way to get those positions in a professional paid orchestra is that u have to b excellent on Bb to get assigned to these ?auxillary" clarinets. Is this still true?
I've also seen posts for full time Eb and bass clarinet, paid positions.
30 years ago, my clarinet professor told us there r now full time paid positions for either of those instruments but she was a all about the Bb instructor.
Please clarify 4 me.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/mbtldsongministry/
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2022-12-26 04:37
It’s true. Depending on the makeup of the orchestra , for a four man section the co-principal will double Eb and play principal when the other principal is off and play Eb when it is required similarly the bass clarinettist will play bass when required and maybe 2nd or 3rd clarinet depending on the repertoire. For a three man section the 2nd clarinet doubles Eb and the third doubles bass.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: kdk
Date: 2022-12-26 04:48
EbClarinet wrote:
> I've seen online and have heard about orchestral excerpts for
> Bb bass clarinet an Eb clarinet. Yet, I've been told the way
> to get those positions in a professional paid orchestra is that
> u have to b excellent on Bb to get assigned to these
> ?auxillary" clarinets. Is this still true?
>
I may not be totally up-to-date, but I can't remember ever seeing a clarinet audition ad in International Musician that wasn't meant to fill either Assistant (or Associate) 1st/Eb Clarinet or Assistant (Associate) 2nd/Bass Clarinet. I've played in bands - community and pickup union-contracted ones - that have had players hired exclusively to play Eb or Bass. When I was in the Army Field Band a very long time ago we had two players who were exclusively Bass Clarinet players.
> I've also seen posts for full time Eb and bass clarinet, paid
> positions.
>
Outside of a military band, I'm curious what ensembles posted these.
> 30 years ago, my clarinet professor told us there r now full
> time paid positions for either of those instruments but she was
> a all about the Bb instructor.
>
All I can base my awareness on are the help wanted ads in International Musician, which carries audition ads for all major AFM (union) U.S. orchestras and, AFAIK all the major (national) military bands. I certainly can't say there have never been ads for Eb or Bass only, but I don't remember any. Certainly not enough to base career hopes on.
Karl
> Please clarify 4 me.
>
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-12-27 06:54
No, but realistically you don't have to "kill it" on Bb to be a utility/bass player. On the other hand it has also been looked at as a way to get your foot in the door while you work your way up.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: lmliberson
Date: 2022-12-27 16:00
Yes…realistically.
If your clarinet playing does not meet the acceptable standards of whatever “professional” orchestra for which you are auditioning, you likely will not even reach that part of the audition where you play Eb or bass. In a typical four-person orchestral clarinet section, the expectations are that each member of the section will be playing clarinet at some time. Many parts in the orchestral repertoire, btw, will be doubling parts where you will play both clarinet and Eb (or bass).
Your clarinet playing has to be more than…ahem…adequate.
Also, while getting your “foot in the door while you work your way up” certainly has occurred, it’s not exactly happening in every orchestra - in fact, it’s mostly a rare happening. Not everybody wants or needs to be a principal.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-12-27 20:33
Just two clarifications.
You don't have to be Stephen Williamson to win a bass audition.
Also, the foot-in-the-door is referring to the "profession." You gain experience (the most important part of the equation......just about everyone in the profession says they began really learning how to play once they got into an orchestra) and a reputation (people recognize your name and associated abilities). This "helps" your chances in the next audition for the next position (asst principal/Eb perhaps) for the next ensemble.
But as long as you're out of the loop, your chances are that much harder. But EVERYONE has to start somewhere.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: lmliberson
Date: 2022-12-27 21:31
Nobody - including me - inferred that one has to be Stephen Williamson or anybody else to win a bass (or Eb) audition. However, mere “adequacy” in ability is hardly sufficient. Just “getting by” doesn’t get the gig in the real world.
Oh, also - where has anyone seen simply a “bass” audition for a bona fide symphony orchestra in the USA without clarinet playing being part of the equation? Not me…
Experience? Sure, exceedingly important. But not all experiences are equal - it all depends on where one is at and what one might absorb.
Reputation? Arguable as to its benefit. Yes, people here and there may have heard you - or heard about you - and, depending on where and what you are playing, you might be fortunate to be pre-advanced in an audition. But you still have to play the audition behind a screen where you’re simply an unknown. Doesn’t sound like any kind of help to me!
I’ve listened to auditions in which somebody who just graduated high school won the audition (and took the job) and where so-called experienced professionals didn’t make it past the first round.
Bottom line is you have to be able to play and make music - no matter where in the section one hopes to sit.
But, getting back to the original poster, if your clarinet playing falls short of the highest standards in an audition (and, of course, every orchestra employs their own subjective standards), your Eb or bass playing will likely never see the light of day.
Well…hear the light of day?
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