 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: vollkommen
Date: 2006-10-20 19:39
My best friend and I are both in our high school's wind ensemble (she plays bass and contra, I play Bb soprano). We were talking about bass clarinets in general since she just recently bought a new one and the idea of Low-C instruments. We both decided that it was a good idea, but kind of a waste of money since there would probably hardly ever be any need for it. Later that night, we had our first rehearsal and received six different pieces to read. Every bass clarinet part (or in some cases, contrabass when she plays it) requires a low-C instrument to play as written. And this is a high school wind ensemble. I've always read on this board and other places that there isn't much music written requiring a low-C bass, but now I'm not so sure.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob A
Date: 2006-10-20 22:00
Did your band director just spend a bunch of money for a Low-C and is now trying to justify the expense to the Board of Supervisors?
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2006-10-21 00:50
There's a lot of market for "new" concert band music, and since it is being written in an era where low C bass clarinets are a lot more common, they are including it as a matter of course.
In the grand scheme of things (looking at all types of music, all genres, all eras), having the extended range is of little utility save when playing some Russian music and when doubling bassoon parts as written. I occasionally "reharmonize" a bass part when it's clear that the range of the low Eb instrument was a limitation, but other than that and bassoon doubling, I seldom use the extension notes.
For an individual, choosing between a low Eb and a low C horn (or between a low Bb and a low A baritone) may be a significant expense. For a school district, planning on getting ten or more years use from a harmony clarinet, it's not all that important. That's why you see so many high quality Selmer baritone saxophones all beaten to junk in high school inventories.
The one good thing about the Ridenour bass clarinet to low C is that now school districts can purchase an extended range horn without blowing the money on something that will be junked in a couple of years.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
