 The Clarinet BBoard
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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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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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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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Author: m1964
Date: 2026-09-26 00:28
lmliberson wrote:
" I have played this literally dozens of times, always on the A clarinet from beginning to end... If you can avoid picking up a cold (or semi-cold) instrument, do so"
There are 32-measure rest at the end of the first movement, then 3 measures of tutti. I could easily change the clarinets during the rest, and simply play last three measures on the Bb, and keep blowing air into the Bb to warm it up.
"After all, the first entrance is more than simply exposed!"
That's the problem I hear when playing the A. The very first sound is throat Bb, which on my A is not as good as throat A on my Bb.
I guess,I will try both and see how it sounds with the orchestra.
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Author: donald
Date: 2026-09-27 11:58
I've only played this twice, once with a scrappy orchestra that I wasn't so concerned with quality... and I just used A clarinet for all 3 movements... when I did it with a "better" orchestra (international soloist, recorded for RNZ and broadcast across the country) I messed around trying to work out which sounded best and went with the Bb clarinet. Later had my A clarinet overhauled, and realised that some of the "betterness" came from the fact that my Bb was in better condition and the long tube notes on my A were suffering a bit from the instrument being neglected.... ESPECIALLY middle B natural - this note played much much better after the 4 bottom pads were replaced etc
That said, I was happy with how it sounded on the Bb and it went fine from "cold" (I frequently use a 64mm barrel in the unheated environments I teach/play in, so this wasn't such a challenge).
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Author: donald
Date: 2026-09-27 12:34
That A clarinet had been previously overhauled by Gordon Palmer, who used to post here. He was capable of some extraordinary work (smashed bell joint etc) and was very opinionated, but took only cursory care when it came to seating pads. The repair tech who later re-padded that instrument was exacting and meticulous where "seal" was concerned. It's easy to sound like an expert on the internet, a lot harder to live up to the highest standard on a daily basis.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2026-09-28 03:10
Just like Brahms’ 4th Symphony it’s better to stay on the same instrument unless you have a good C clarinet. I’ve done the Beethoven Vln Concerto a few times over the years and on a few of those occasions used a C. I prefer to stay on the A clarinet as the instrument is warmed up etc. and so won’t effect the rest of the wind section playing a cold instrument.
Peter Cigleris
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