 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jeff
Date: 2002-06-17 23:14
My youth orchestra was invited to a competition next July at Carnagie Hall and our two prerequisites are Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries and Bernstein's Overture to Candide. I've honestly never heard Candide but I hear theres a difficult Eb part, which I'll be playing. Can anyone enlighten me on what exactly is so difficult besides taming the Eb itself? Any info or tips would be great, since I couldn't find anything through the sneezy search. Thanks in advance.
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Author: rmk
Date: 2002-06-17 23:32
Actually, it's a fairly easy part. The hardest thing is tuning some of the solos with the piccolo.
Technically, it's a breeze.
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Author: Jabber
Date: 2002-06-18 06:24
Actually, the Eb is NOT a breeze. It does operate under the same standard fingerings as the Bb however in the upper register there are alot more alternates used due to extreme intonation problems. Because the Eb is smaller than the Bb getting used to the position of the keys can be difficult especially when dealing with the throat A and Ab keys. However, the Eb is most terrified by it's intonation. Not so much for tuning with the piccolo but rather blending into the clarinet sound. Most often people take the fact that the Eb is a clarinet for granted and throw caution to the wind as far as tone goes. Tone on Eb is so key! Fortunately in the Bernstein a clear often brighter tone is appropriate. Eb easily possesses a strident, bright, cheery tone. Embochural differences can also be a problem. Having played Eb exclusively in high school and maintaing principal Eb in our district for 2 years i believe that Eb, if approached as a seperate instrument as oppose to "a little clarinet", can be quite fulfilling. Don't let it's size fool you. The Eb is often referred to as THE BEAST of the clarinet family but like any beast it can be tamed. Have fun! i absolutely love playing the Eb and found that after playing it for a while and focusing so much on good tone that my tone on Bb got significantly better! Happy E-flating!
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Author: rmk
Date: 2002-06-18 12:40
Jabber opined:
>It does operate under the same standard fingerings as the Bb >however in the upper register there are alot more alternates used >due to extreme intonation problems. Because the Eb is smaller than >the Bb getting used to the position of the keys can be difficult >especially when dealing with the throat A and Ab keys.
If you read Jeff's post, you might notice that he asks what is so difficult "besides taming the Eb itself".
It sounds like you need a better instrument or reed/mouthpiece combination.
Candide IS a breeze compared to Rite of Spring, Daphnis, Shostakovich 6, Firebird Ballet or any number of other pieces. There is nothing challenging technically (unlike the 1st clarinet part) and aside from a high G and high F#, it stays out of the extreme high register (unlike Mahler 6, which, if you play it on the Eb instead of the D, goes to altissimo Bb).
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Author: Mark G. Simon
Date: 2002-06-18 13:22
Also, in Candide, you're going to get a 2 measure solo where you're the only person playing (the lead-in to the second theme). Enjoy it.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-06-18 14:37
Jeff -
When I got out of the West Point Band, I went to the University of Tennessee and was quickly drafted to play Eb, which I'd never played before. (Actually, I'd been playing mostly contra.) I got used to the differences between Bb and Eb fairly quickly -- intonation, altissimo fingerings, resistance, key location, etc.
What I found hardest about playing Eb was remembering that I was NOT the solo clarinetist. The function of the Eb player is not to play the melody or lead the section. You're there to add sparkle to the section sound, not create it. Except for the solos, if you can be heard individually, you're playing too loud.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: jeff
Date: 2002-06-18 18:18
Thank you all for your input. I'll probably be starting on a search for an Eb rental pretty soon, so if anyone has any suggestions they'd be appreciated. I know of at least one place that rents one, although I believe it is a Vito.
~ jeff
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-06-19 11:57
Jeff - my little E flat's nickname is satan ... enough said.
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