Author: Nate Zeien
Date: 2001-03-18 00:16
As Ralph said, there is more to using an instrument of a different key than ease of fingerings. Granted, ease of fingerings does effect sound, and sometimes how the trills sound. I tried playing a Brandwein piece on my clarinet from ear. No matter how much I practiced, I could still not get that sound that I heard. Sure, I'm not as good as Brandwein, but I thought I could do better than I was doing. I didn't play that number for a while, and then later tried playing it on my clarinet, but started off in the wrong key. Lo and behold! I got that sound I was looking for, but not in the right key. In my opinion, there are three factors to consider when it comes to the key of a selection. First, a clarinet in the key of C has a considerably different sound than one of Bb, D, etc. Second, a clarinet is not perfect. There is varience of the different notes on a clarinet. For example, the throat tones are one of the most obvious, but there are so many more, less obvious quirks in the clarinet. These quirks effect intensity, intonation, as well as timbre. Third, there are the different fingerings, which alone, might not be too much of a problem, but the trills that accompany them, when not in the original key, may be a little tricky. With practice, these trills can be decently exectuted, but often lack the sound and character when transposed. Part of this is to do with ease of fingering, and partly due to where the keys are in relation to our fingers. The other part is number two, as listed above. I admit, I cannot afford to have clarinets in several different keys, but I know full well that it does make a difference. I am not saying that one should go out and buy clarinets in every key, but it is something one should be aware of when playing and selecting music. The key in which it is played on the instrument, as well as the key of the instrument itself, effects the tone and character, and general sound of a piece. Another thing to consider with these guys that have all the different keys of clarinets - they can afford it! Playing clarinet is what most of them do for a living, and it makes good sense for them to spend the money, so that they can get just the right sound that they are looking for. Just my opinions and observations. :-) -- Nate Zeien
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The Ethnic Clarinet
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