The Clarinet BBoard  
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Author: GBK  
Date:   2009-07-08 00:51 
 Gustav Mahler 
 
The composer who - 
 
1. was influential in making clarinet players buy Bb, A, C, Eb and/or D clarinets    
 
2. forced clarinetists to learn German musical terms 
 
...GBK
  
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Author: DavidBlumberg  
Date:   2009-07-08 03:01 
 I have to throw this one out there again: 
 
 
Rehearsal memo: 
 
Several weeks ago, we sent you a list of translations of the German  
markings in the Mahler Symphony. We now realize that this list  
contained many serious errors. The following contains the correct  
versions. So we don't waste valuable rehearsal time on this, copy  
these corrections into your part immediately. 
 
GERMAN - ENGLISH 
 
Langsam - Slowly 
 
Schleppend - Slowly 
 
Dampfer auf - Slowly 
 
Mit Dampfer - Slowly 
 
Allmahlich in das Hauptzeitmass ubergehen - Do not look at the  
conductor 
 
Im Anfang sehr gemaechlich - In intense inner torment 
 
Alle Betonungen sehr zart - With more intense inner torment 
 
Getheilt (geth.) - Out of tune 
 
Von hier an in sehr allmaehlicher aber stetiger Steigerung bis zum 
Zeichen - From this point on, the spit valves should be emptied with 
ever-increasing emotion 
 
Hier ist ein frisches belebtes Zeitmass eingetreten - Slowly 
 
Haupttempo - Slowly 
 
Noch ein wenig beschleunigend - Slowing down but with a sense of  
speeding up 
 
Immer noch zurueckhaltend - With steadily decreasing competence 
 
Sehr gemaechlich - With indescribably horrific inner torment 
 
Etwas bewegter, aber immer noch sehr ruhig - Somewhat louder, though 
still inaudible as before 
 
Alle Betonungen sehr zart - With smallish quantities of fairly mild 
inner torment 
 
Gemaechlich - Intermission 
 
Ganz unmerklich etwas zurueckhaltend - Slowly 
 
Etwas gemaechlicher als zuvor - Slowly 
 
Von hier ab unmerklich breiter werden - As if wild animals were 
gnawing on your liver 
 
Ohne cresc. - Without toothpaste 
 
Immer noch etwas zurueckhaltend - Slowly 
 
Vorwaerts draengend - Slowly 
 
Hauptzeitmass - Slowly 
 
Allmaehlich etwas lebhafter - Screaming in agony 
 
Ohne Nachschl(age) - Without milk (sugar) 
 
Kraeftig bewegt - Slowly 
 
Mit dem Holze zu streichen - Like a hole in the head 
 
Mit Parodie - Viola solo 
 
Sehr einfach und schlicht, wie eine Volksweise - Slowly 
 
Daempfer ab - Eyes closed 
 
Ploetzlich viel schneller - Even more ploddingly 
 
Den ersten Ton scharf herausgehoben - Do not play until the buzzer  
sounds 
 
Am Griffbrett - As if in tune 
 
Aeusserst zart, aber ausdrucksvoll - Radiantly joyful, despite the  
itching 
 
Wieder zurueckhaltend - Increasingly decreasing 
 
Noch breiter als vorher - Better late than never 
 
Nicht eilen - No eels 
 
Allmaehlich (unmerklich) etwas zurueckhaltend - Much faster (slower) 
than conductor 
 
Lang gestrichen - Heads up 
 
Lang gezogen - Heads back down 
 
Die werden allmaehlich staerker und staerker bis zum (fp) - In the 
event of a water landing, your seat cushion may be used as a 
flotation device 
 
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com 
  
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017 
Date:   2009-07-08 04:27 
 At least the parts Mahler wrote for bass clarinet in "A" are simple to play. Unlike that devil Ravel's "La Valse" part. 
Recht an!
  
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Author: Alseg  
Date:   2009-07-08 13:31 
 "Bells up" instruction written on the parts  for both clarinet and oboe.....wherein  Mahler  channels visuals of Spike Jones and  the King of Swing prior to their time, but intends to sound harsh and brassy, thus channeling US  high school marching bands. 
 
 
Former creator of CUSTOM  CLARINET TUNING BARRELS   by DR. ALLAN SEGAL 
           -Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-     
 
 
                     
                   
 
Post Edited (2009-07-08 13:32)
  
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Author: aero145  
Date:   2009-07-08 13:53 
 David B, that made my day! Partly because the translations are so extremely wrong. :D
  
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Author: Ed Palanker  
Date:   2009-07-08 15:47 
 David S, does that include Mahlers 6th? 
   
GBK, none of us in the BSO own a C or D clarinet so he didn't succeed in getting us to buy them, we just transpose. I never could understand German, still. 
 
David B, you have to much time on your hands but I'm glad you do, it's cute.  
 
Allan, you're so right. 
 
ESP    http://eddiesclarinet.com 
 
ESP     eddiesclarinet.com  
 
Post Edited (2009-07-08 15:49)
  
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Author: GBK  
Date:   2009-07-08 16:32 
 Ed...My comment about the D clarinet was made in jest since I realize that few players own one, or let alone have ever played one. 
 
However, I am a bit surprised about the fact that there are no C clarinets in the BSO. Wouldn't that make life a bit easier, and lend to the (watch out, here comes that word) "authenticity" of the performance? 
 
I can't imagine playing Mozartiana and numerous other pieces without one. 
 
And then there is the whole question of the "correct" sound the composer originally wanted... 
 
...GBK
  
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017 
Date:   2009-07-08 19:51 
 Ed, my apologies, I was thinking about Mahler's 4th which has the easy parts for bass clarinet in A -- you're right, the 6th is another story!
  
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