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 correct clef-reading in Rite of Spring for bass clarinet
Author: PeterinToronto 2017
Date:   2023-03-16 09:31

Hi everyone,

Hope you're all doing well around the world! I'm going to play the 2nd bass/3rd clarinet part in Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, and have been doing a bit of hunting to confirm how to read the clefs in the part (bass and treble). As near as I can tell from recordings, you play the bass clef as usual (so C on second space is thumb 123) and I'm guessing treble is where it sits, and not up an octave. So a Bb on the middle line would be a throat Bb.

Can anyone confirm that?

And a small bonus question for anyone interested: it's been on my mind to confirm the end of Daphnis, with what I've always played as an unmeasured trill in sections, despite it being written in that sort of "2-slash" notation between 8ths that could mean 16ths.

Thanks a lot for any insights!

Peter Stoll in Toronto

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 Re: correct clef-reading in Rite of Spring for bass clarinet
Author: ebonite 
Date:   2023-03-16 15:12

PeterinToronto wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> Hope you're all doing well around the world! I'm going to play
> the 2nd bass/3rd clarinet part in Stravinsky's Rite of Spring,
> and have been doing a bit of hunting to confirm how to read the
> clefs in the part (bass and treble). As near as I can tell from
> recordings, you play the bass clef as usual (so C on second
> space is thumb 123) and I'm guessing treble is where it sits,
> and not up an octave. So a Bb on the middle line would be a
> throat Bb.
>
> Can anyone confirm that?

Yes, it's in what some people call "Russian notation" (different from both French and German notation):

https://www.jasonalder.com/blog/2020/02/20/a-guide-to-understanding-bass-clarinet-clef-notation/



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 Re: correct clef-reading in Rite of Spring for bass clarinet
Author: PeterinToronto 2017
Date:   2023-03-16 18:55

Thanks a lot ebonite, very helpful! One small thing, the author of that excellent blog post quotes an excerpt that is actually on Bb soprano clarinet (the 32nd arpeggios), the part switches back and forth a lot.

Many thanks!

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 Re: correct clef-reading in Rite of Spring for bass clarinet
Author: rs cl 
Date:   2023-03-17 12:40

Yes as above, thankfully.

The part does switch a bit, and there is one change that is somewhat quick in the second half, I can't remember if the first bass can/needs to cover it or if it doesn't matter. Be careful if you're using bootleg IMSLP vs the printed versions - the IMSLP ones have some errors.

Re. Daphnis: play it measured and not as a trill. At tempo (150+) it is so fast that there is not much between a trill and 16ths.

John

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 Re: correct clef-reading in Rite of Spring for bass clarinet
Author: PeterinToronto 2017
Date:   2023-03-18 09:31

Thanks a lot John! I have a copy of the original printed part, fortunately as it sounds to be!

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 Re: correct clef-reading in Rite of Spring for bass clarinet
Author: jasonalder 
Date:   2024-01-02 15:30

Oh yikes, can’t believe I didn’t catch that mistake. Thanks for pointing it out. I’ve now replaced the excerpt with a different one supporting the same point I was making.


>One small thing, the author of that excellent blog post quotes an excerpt that is actually on Bb soprano clarinet (the 32nd arpeggios), the part switches back and forth a lot.



Post Edited (2024-01-02 15:34)

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 Re: correct clef-reading in Rite of Spring for bass clarinet
Author: Johnny Galaga 
Date:   2024-01-05 06:06

Anyone who can play all those 32nd notes on a bass clarinet is GOD.



Post Edited (2024-01-05 22:52)

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