 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2026-10-17 14:41
While performing solo, do clarinetists typically adjust the tuning of individual notes to add (or reduce) melodic tension? Might they, perhaps, narrow the width of a leading tone interval, or similarly the interval of a major 3rd to a 4th in an upward scale?
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2026-10-17 17:49
It depends upon the harmonic context.
For example, in a dominant seventh chord, the leading tone is raised rather than lowered (as it would be if it were the third of a major chord).
To answer your question: it depends on the situation. In a run of 32nd notes, probably not. But in a slower context (say, the second movement of Brahms' Symphony No.4), definitely.
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Author: donald
Date: 2026-10-19 00:53
This is something we're all *supposed* to know about and do, but it's seldom taught (even at University level). A fair number of players might instinctively make some adjustments without "thinking" about it on an intellectual level.
Many years ago I was in the same room as the Principal wind players from a major symphony. They started discussing a (very fine player) who had been on a 6 month trial in the wind section (this orchestra routinely had long trial periods, then a "probationary" contract before appointing anybody) but had been turned down. For a few minutes they kind of forgot I was there and just talked about section playing and unisons - this player wasn't "following my dynamic phrasing, note lengths are good but she doesn't come with me on the phrase" (I pretty much remember that verbatim). Another principal then commented that she didn't have a good sense of "melodic intonation" by which I assumed it was meant some of the things discussed above.
These players were expecting their colleague to not just phrase with them, but know and predict WHEN to adjust the intonation on notes when playing a unison phrase.
Tough to get through an audition, play for months as a principal player, get accolades for beautiful solo passages, then get turned down for this - but as someone once said to me "THAT'S THE JOB".
Post Edited (2026-10-19 01:44)
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