 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: loudtbone
Date: 2013-11-26 14:32
Hello all of you awesome Clarinet guru's!
I have a band director question for you. When writing in the key of B Major, is it more common to write the clarinet part in Db or C#?
I am writing out some new warm-ups for our band and want to give the clarinet players something that will be most useful for them. If they are going to see Db before they see C# I want to start with Db before I do C# and vice versa.
GEHS Band Director
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2013-11-26 14:43
That key rarely shows up in band music. I'd recommend writing in both Db and C#.
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Author: William
Date: 2013-11-26 14:49
My college theory professor would require a Bb clarinet part to be transposed to C# if your composition is in B. However, if it is written in Cb, then transpose the part to Db.
Realistically, I would rather read a clarinet part in C# than in Db regardless of the concert key the conductor has to read.....LOL
Or, you could do a lot of musicians a favor by writing your music up or down a half step--Bb or C. The only person who might object would be your "diva" soprano vocalist.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-11-26 14:57
I personally find the key of Db nicer to read as it only has five flats instead of seven sharps.
Better still would be to write for A clarinet as it will put it in the key of D Major, but that's only useful if everyone has A clarinets.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-11-26 15:37
As a practical matter, in band clarinet sections, your 1st section may be able to play in C# (or Db), at least after diligent practice. Your 2nd and 3rd sections will be lost if they're playing anything faster than half notes.
Ken Shaw
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2013-11-26 15:44
I believe this band director wants to give his students the experience of playing in all keys, so writing for A clarinet or transposing a half step would defeat the purpose. I agree a bout doing both keys but would start with c# first. Good luck to you and your students.
AAAClarinet
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-11-26 16:04
C# is an enharmonic key folks.............why purposely use it??????
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-11-26 16:46
What key signature are you using for the alto saxes? If you're giving them Ab Major, logic would suggest using Db for the clarinets, since the key signature is simpler. Of course, if you're writing the alto parts in G#, go for putting the clarinets in C#.
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-11-26 17:12
G# Major is G#, A#, B#, C#, D#, E#, Fx, G#, so they'll love playing in that key signature.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2013-11-26 17:25
I have played parts with 7 sharps doing studio music, so it does happen.
AAAClarinet
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Author: Lee
Date: 2013-11-26 17:31
Write it in Db then any one with an A clarinet can just change the key signature and read it as is.
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Author: loudtbone
Date: 2013-11-26 18:46
Thanks for all of the replies folks! True we don't really run into it with our band music that much but we do play alot of musicals in our school and we are pretty active in playing symphony orchestra music.
Our warm-up system is home grown and was based off of all of the music in the band library at the time it was created. At that time 9 major keys were represented (5 flats to 3 sharps) So in our warm-ups we play a bit in all of those nine keys. As I said we have reached the point with our music department that we are needing cover the last 3 key signatures.
I did write the Alto part in Ab. I haven't seen anything written with 8 sharps in the Alto part
GEHS Band Director
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-11-26 23:11
loudtbone wrote:
> I did write the Alto part in Ab. I haven't seen anything
> written with 8 sharps in the Alto part
>
You could be the first to write it!
Karl
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Author: qualitycontrol
Date: 2013-11-27 00:46
Why would anyone prefer C# over Db? I can understand the usefulness of knowing both (and being familiar with signatures up to 7 sharps or flats) but are sharp signatures that much easier to read? C# can't possibly be more common than Db, can it?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-11-27 02:51
I certainly don't think so. Of course as a wind player with lots of band experience I always thought I might be prejudiced to flat keys due to that. However, I just ran into a pianist that admitted that he is uncomfortable with sharp key with more than 3 sharps. I feel vindicated.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-11-27 06:09
Having played in several concert bands for years, I can hardly recall any music written in C# or Db for the clarinet. However, the ability to play with facility in those keys is very valuable for jazz improvisation as one often sees tunes where those keys are represented for a few bars, such as Giant Steps, One Note Samba, and Central Park West.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-11-27 06:37
Db Major is a common key in band music for flutes, piccolos, oboes, trombones, euphoniums, tubas, string basses and tuned percussion. All the Bb, Eb and F pitched instruments don't have such a tough time.
I don't know why the concert band version of Elgar's 'Nimrod' has been dropped down from the original Concert Eb Major to Db Major when Eb is a decent key for concert bands to play in, but that's one of those annoying things common with concert/military band writing.
I heard moanings from some lower order clarinets when I did a concert band arrangement of 'Getting Sentimental Over You' for solo trombone in the key of D Major (as played by Tommy Dorsey) - there was all this 'Four sharps? FOUR SHARPS?' going on when they only had offbeat crotchets and minims or semibreves to play! Just as well they didn't play alto or bari sax as the soli in the middle was in five sharps and had quavers in it!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-11-27 12:44
Some people read flats easier than sharps and some visa versa. If ther's a band piece in C# or Db they should all get an A clarinet and play it in the key of D. :-)
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-11-27 12:52
Chris P wrote:
>
> I don't know why the concert band version of Elgar's 'Nimrod'
> has been dropped down from the original Concert Eb Major to Db
> Major when Eb is a decent key for concert bands to play in, but
> that's one of those annoying things common with
> concert/military band writing.
>
That's interesting, Chris. Whose arrangement is it? One of the pieces on a program I conducted just last weekend with my high school level band was a 1965 arrangement of Nimrod by Alfred Reed that was in Eb Major. You're right - very comfortable for Bb and Eb instruments (and the first alto sax part is very prominent melodically). I don't know why an arranger would drop it a step, either.
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-11-27 13:02
It's the Novello & Co. (or H.W.Gray Co.Ltd. in the US) edition arranged for Brass or Military band by Denis Wright. This is the version that's played by the majority of bands during Remembrance services.
This is typical of brass bands as they generally play in flat keys. In the red Salvation Army Carol books that are all being dusted down as we speak, the arrangement of 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' is in concert Gb Major - what's wrong with F Major? Alright if you only use three fingers on some Bb/Eb brass instrument, but consider the concert pitch players, especially the last verse when it goes double time!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2013-11-27 14:29
This thread is a reminder that learning all the keys is a great idea -- and the younger the better. Someone who can open up a score written in any key without howls of horror, and better yet, someone who can transpose at sight, has a huge competitive advantage. That being said, I don't write parts in way-out-there keys -- because I know they won't get played!
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Krommer
Date: 2013-11-30 03:04
After teaching Middle School level band for 35 years I came to the conclusion that Bb instruments are more at ease in flat keys
Eb more comfortable in sharp keys
Most brass players play in flat keys.
Not to say that going through the circle of fourths everyday doesn't really help flexibility.
Try not to make up the students mind about what is difficult. As players we tend to say Ooooo-5 sharps! If you don't tell them it's hard they won't know.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2013-11-30 04:00
Krommer said ,"Not to say that going through the circle of fourths everyday doesn't really help flexibility".
Or the circle of fifths if you want to go around the other way
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2013-12-01 00:15
kdk wrote:
You could be the first to write it!
(referring to a key signature of 8 sharps)
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There is a brass quintet by Ewald (early 20th C. Russian composer) that has a section written in 8 flats (D-flat minor).
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Another vote for D-flat rather than C-sharp.
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