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Beethoven violin concerto 2nd movement- A or Bb?

Author: m1964
Date: 2026-09-25 06:15

As in the post title: the original part is for a C.
I do not have a good C (got a plastic one), so found a part transposed for the A.
However, there are a few throat B-flats so I am thinking of trying it on a Bb.

Edit: just tried it on a Bb and it sounded more even and brighter, comparing to the A.
I do feel that the character changes quite a bit from the Bb to the A.

Did anyone play it? What clarinet did you use in the 2nd movement?

Thanks

P.S.
I found an older post on this, but it went sideways with some personal references...so please give me your opinions only if possible

Post Edited (2026-09-25 06:49)

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Re: Beethoven violin concerto 2nd movement- A or Bb?

Author: kdk
Date: 2026-09-25 13:46

m1964 wrote:

> As in the post title: the original part is for a C.

> Did anyone play it? What clarinet did you use in the 2nd
> movement?
>

It isn't hard to play on either A or Bb clarinet.

There's certainly an advantage to keeping the same clarinet (in A) that you're playing for the rest of the symphony. But the concert G half-notes are better on most Bb clarinets (throat A). Assuming you're rehearsing and performing this, try both out and see which works better with your individual instruments.

Karl

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Re: Beethoven violin concerto 2nd movement- A or Bb?

Author: lmliberson
Date: 2026-09-25 14:48

I have played this literally dozens of times, always on the A clarinet from beginning to end, as I learned from one of my teachers a long, long time ago.

If you can avoid picking up a cold (or semi-cold) instrument, do so, IMHO. After all, the first entrance is more than simply exposed!

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