 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sarah
Date: 2001-11-05 13:23
I need to buy a professional Bb and A clarinet, I was wondering if I should get the same model for each one. Like an R13 in each key. I am in the concert band at my college and I dont really know what I want to do after I graduate (it will be in music though). How often is an A clarinet required?
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-11-05 14:20
Sarah,
If you take clarinet seriously and plan on playing in orchestra and chamber music settings then yes an A clarinet will become a necessity.
As for matching models, my feeling is that you should try to get as close a response from the different clarinet as you can get. So yes getting 2 R13s is a good idea. They will behave the same way in terms of response and intonation which will make your job much easier when switching from one to the other.
Be careful when buying an R13, make sure you check the intonation especially the 12ths.
Best,
-Sylvain
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Author: William
Date: 2001-11-05 14:33
If your future playing consists only of concert band and jazz gigs, than an A clarinet is not needed. However, an A clarinet is required if you plan on doing orchestral playing. Purchasing a set of clarinets of the same brand and model will make switching from one to the other a bit more comfortable as the key setups will me more compatable, but it is more important to obatain clarinets for their playing characteristics. If an A clarinet of another brand plays better for you than the one than matches the name and model of your Bb, it makes sense to purchase and play it. I have sets of both Buffet R-13s and LeBlanc Concertos, and often choose to use my R-13 Bb--for its sound--along with my LeBlanc A, because it plays so much better, with regards to intonation and eveness of scale, than my R-13 A. The key work is a bit different, even after having the LeBlanc little finger keys adjusted to match the Buffets, but is easy to become familiar with given use and practice. I bought my R-13 A two years after my R-13 Bb (because I decided to use the University Symphony Orchestra on my college senior recital to accompany the Mozart Clarinet Concerto) and have never regretted it. If you are a serious clarinetist, I recommend that you purchase an A as soon as you can either afford it or need it. You might also consider an Eb clarinet as well as a bass--they are fun clarinets to play and are useful in either band or orchestral work. Good Clarineting!!!
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Author: Bob
Date: 2001-11-05 17:11
If you don't know that you need a an A clarinet and you are already in college and are thinking about a major in clarinet performance, you shouldn't because that shows you are that far behind the rest of the college clarinetists.
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-11-05 23:22
Hey Bob! The rest of us "Bob's" are goping to get heat from Sarah (and rightly so) unless you identify yourself more fully. Speak up man--you said it.
Bob A
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-11-06 03:05
Sara, why not talk to the clarinet prof at your college about it. Maaybe take a lesson. I bet he could wangle a school horn for you to play while you are deciding.
As a rank amateur clarinetist I was asked to play in the pit for "Amahl and the Night Visitors" about 17 years ago. The Bb part made more sense for an A clarinet so I bought one. I have never regretted it, it really helps to make orchestral playing more fun. I only wish I had gotten a better A calarinet. So if you can't decide maybe you should buy my A and I will get the better one!
If you don't plan on a lot of orchestral work then ask around and borrow an A clarinet when you need one, I have loaned mine out many times... in fact my daughter has it now but I will be using it again next month.
Terry
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-11-06 04:31
Excersizing often with an A clarinet, which needs longer air column, makes an improvement in projection when playing of a B flat clarinet. I remember Guy Dunguin wrote so in his book. I wondered if this is a common notion to professional people.
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Author: terry
Date: 2001-11-06 11:46
ah yes, the "jerk factor."
Sarah, this is a price you pay to ask questions, regrettable but true.
I once asked about a product, and found that 80% were negative,
despite never using or knowing anyone who used the product...
As for your "A clarinet" question. I believe that Benny Goodman
had it right in his clarinet book circa 1940. If you are into "band",
modern ensembles, popular music, jazz, etc. then Bb is the
place to be. If you are into orchestral settings and most of
the classical repertoir, and plan on putting either professional
or serious personal time (community orchestra) into it, then
you will be interested in adding the A clarinet.
Transposing. Many people sight transpose A to Bb, and this
works for them. This is apparently something pros do as even
if they have the A, there is all that Beethoven, et. al. written for
the "C".
Using the Bb on A music. You can transpose, and there are
programs that will do most of the work for your. Or....
you will find that most if not all of the "important" works have
versions readily available where you play the A part without
transposing on the Bb, with the "transposing" being placed
on the other parts. I did a recital of Mozart K.622 Concerto
this way with the "Shirmer" version.
Bottom line, the question is "are you going pro or semi-pro"
in an orchestral or classical setting? otherwise, either
transpose or borrow/rent the A for occational work.
Best wishes,
terry
P.S. I do not fit the profile to have both the Bb and A, but
I have a matched set. Why? because the opportunity presented
it self. ***I have found an new use for the A !!!*** I double
at church, and all the music is for Piano/Voice, and thus "C."
I toyed for over a year about getting a "C" clarinet, but it never
came together. Now, when I get church music, I look at
the key, and transpose to A or Bb depending on which will
"tame" the piece the most. wunderbar!!
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-11-06 17:01
Why don't you look at some of the older posts? There are many posts on here about that subject.
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