 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: glin
Date: 2004-09-27 02:26
Hi folks. In one of the community bands I play in, the director has prescribed a seating arrangement that is new to me, for a full size concert band. All the clarinets are in one row: (4) 3rds on left, (3) 1sts in the middle, and (5) 2nds on the right. It makes it hard to hear everyone's part, (across the band, rather than traditional row by row seating, for each part)in my opinion.
Any one else out there run into this?
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-09-27 12:11
In theory, I could see the arrangement you describe as making it easier for the director (and audience?) to hear the interior clarinet parts, and to hear the section as a whole. It would likely make it more difficult for the seconds to hear the thirds, and the firsts to hear the seconds, as you were accustomed to hearing. But it *might* make it easier for the firsts to hear everybody else.
This sounds a little bit like a choral arrangement. Does your director have a choral background?
Susan
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Author: glin
Date: 2004-09-27 12:47
Susan,
Yes - he has a choral background plus orchestra and band. This is his first year with our ensemble.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-09-27 13:23
He probably doesn't even use a stick - does he........
It's like a Clarinetist taking lessons from a Flutist - he learns the 1st line Eb fingering as 1&1....
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Author: Sarah
Date: 2004-09-27 15:16
Try listening to the other instruments as well. Several times I have taken part in an alternate set up. Usually what happens is you end up hearing many more parts that you wouldn't normally be able to hear in a large ensemble.
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Author: VermontJM
Date: 2004-09-28 08:10
I play in two ensembles with odd clarinet seating. We have clarinets in the first row, in band (from the director's perspective) the firsts and Eb are in the middle, seconds to the left and thirds to the right with extra thirds in a second row behind the first row of thirds. Flutes are in the second row behind the second clarinets.
In wind ensemble, firsts and eb are on the left, seconds on the right and thirds in the second row on the right (behind the seconds.). Flutes are in the second row behind the firsts.
He chose to do this to cover up a bit of the flutes, make it easier for the third clarinet parts to be heard and allow for the second and third clarinets to hear the firsts easier for the intonation reasons. It's a little odd, but it works. It also eliminates the fight for a visible first chair in band because the first chair player is on the inside of the circle. (if that makes any sense...)
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Author: Iacuras
Date: 2004-09-28 12:22
We have this seating in my band too. We started doing it last year in all the bands at my high school. My director says he did some research on it and having all the clarinets in one row, the flutes behind them on the right, then sax's just left of that, then bass clarinet, basson, and then french horn on the second row, and the rest of the brass on the third row, give the ensemble better balance and intonation. I don't know why though. The only difference is our first clarinets are on the right and seconds are in the middle, thirds on the left. (All directions are from the point of view of someone behind the band. If you were in the audience the direction would be reversed.)
Steve
"If a pretty poster and a cute saying are all it takes to motivate you, you probably have a very easy job. The kind robots will be doing soon."
"If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly."
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Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2004-09-29 13:26
Heh... Band directors do all kinds of weird seating. I was at a festival once where the director layed the clarinets out like a violin section. so in the front row you had a stand of first, second and thirds. and then their sections were divded up behind them isntead of rowed.
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Author: Burt
Date: 2004-09-29 14:35
The community band I play in has an unusual setup.
From the conductor's left -
First row: Oboe, 1st clarinet, piccolo, 1st flute
Second row: Bassoon, 2nd clarinet, sax starting with bari, 2nd flute
Third row: Bass clarinet, 3rd clarinet, trumpet, horn
Fourth row: Percussion, trombone, baritone, tuba
This makes the bass parts more prominent. Everyone likes it except 3rd clarinet (in front of percussion) and last 1st clarinet (piccolo blows in her ear).
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2004-09-29 15:29
Facing the band, first row our arrangement is 1st cl, 2nd cl, oboe, fluets, picc.
Second row is bass cl, 3rds, bari sax, tenor sax's, alto sax.
This is based on parts played rather than specific chair arrangement and the numbers of each vary depending on who shows up. Typically there are 3 of us on the first row clarinets and when there are solo parts 2nd covers the first.
The only time I've really had problems with seating is when my stand mate doubles on bass cl between 1st and 2nd or solo and first. Then I cannot hear what the 1st/solo cl is doing and that causes me fits and the whole section tends to start falling apart.
Best
Rick
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-09-30 05:49
Having the firsts in the middle of the clarinet section may make good sense.
In most big bands, for example, the lead players do not sit at the end of their section. They set at or near the middle--possibly so that their section mates can tune to them directly rather than via a daisy chain.
Having section leaders at the end of the row in concert bands, may simply be a necessity in order for soloists to be heard over the ensemble.
Allen Cole
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