 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: nahya^^
Date: 2002-08-10 20:01
is it flute that starts it off? it doesn't really sound like a flute but it doesn't sound like a clarinet either...
maybe my ears are messed up or the clarinet is really high quality. lol
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: msroboto
Date: 2002-08-10 20:17
It is an probably an A clarinet and probably really high quality.
That may explain why it sounds different to you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nahya^^
Date: 2002-08-10 20:19
an A clarinet?
what's that?
a kind of clarinets?
i thought there were only 2 Bb's and 2 Eb's?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David
Date: 2002-08-10 21:00
If you read, finger and blow a "C" on a B flat clarinet, the noise that comes out in real life is a B flat.
A "C" on an E flat comes out as an E flat.
You can guess what happens with an A clarinet.
Orchestral players usually have a B Flat and an A handy. If you start to get into key signatures on the B flat that have loads of shaps or flats, the arranger or composer rewrites it for the A, and it's always much easier.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob49t
Date: 2002-08-10 22:32
It's interesting that the questioner is unaware of the existence of the A clar when the Concerto in question is for solo clarinet in A and orchestra. Originally for (we think)basset clarinet in A, which reached lower than the standard clarinet, so that the lower arpeggia didn't have to be "bent up". Many of the modern recordings utilise specially manufactured (non -production line)basset clarinets. in A.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-08-10 23:50
bob49t wrote:
>
> It's interesting that the questioner is unaware of the
> existence of the A clar when the Concerto in question is for
> solo clarinet in A and orchestra.
Not really for someone just starting. Also, it's a Concerto in A for clarinet and orchestra - considering that today's Bb clarinet can play in the concert pitch of A, it not be that unusual a question. I'm sure the Italians have played it on a Bb clarinet more than once ...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph G
Date: 2002-08-11 00:10
nahya,
An A clarinet is slightly longer than the standard Bb clarinet and is therefore pitched lower. For any given fingering on a Bb clarinet (say an open G), the same note and fingering will sound one half-step lower on the A clarinet, i.e. the open G on the A clarinet will "sound like" an F# played on the standard Bb clarinet. Are you confused by all the alphabet soup yet?
It would be a wonderful world if all we ever needed was one clarinet to play in a band, symphony, small ensemble, or whatever with relative ease. However, lots of orchestral music is written in key signatures that can be difficult to play on a Bb clarinet. The solution? Make clarinets of differing length that are pitched in different keys, and use the one that is best suited for playing the piece.
Most other instruments have gizmos either built in or that you can add to make playing in bizarre keys easier -- guitars have capos, some brass instruments have valves and tubes. Us poor clarinet players have to buy two or even three different clarinets if we want to get really seriously into orchestral or symphonic music. That's why we're so poor!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: LaLa
Date: 2002-08-11 00:59
Mark, just curious but why would the Italians play the concerto on Bb as oppose to say the Germans, Polish, French...? Just wondering if there is some cultural background that i'm totally missing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-08-11 01:07
The Italians have a tradition of using a Bb instrument with a low Eb, therefore allowing them to play parts written for either Bb and A clarinets on one instrument. They have a reputation as transposers <i>par excellance</i> for that reason.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob49t
Date: 2002-08-11 08:54
Mark,
After I posted, I had an inkling I might get a reply from you. Interesting about the Italians. Obviously a breed apart. It would take a brave player indeed to perform the Mozart on a Bb instrument, playing therefore in 5 sharps !
I've certainly learned something, Nayha has too, but no-one has answered the original question posted.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rob Bell
Date: 2002-08-11 19:51
Ha!!
I have a copy of the mozart written out in B Major! Its scarey, even more difficult than the original in A!!!!
Rob
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob49t
Date: 2002-08-12 06:19
I thonk the answer to Nahya's original question is FLUTE.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph G
Date: 2002-08-12 13:22
Didn't msroboto answer it in the first reply? The strings carry the melody in the opening, but the solo instrument that later takes over is the A clarinet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-08-13 13:20
The strings open in the first tutti at measure 1 and the piece has a double exposition which is quite unusual form for its time. the structure of the work is outlined in various sources and may be helpful to understanding musical form for Nahya/ Good Luck !
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-08-14 23:05
If you were listening to the recording by James Galway, it was a flute.
Best regards,
jnk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
