Author: graham
Date: 2018-12-02 01:28
I think I know what people are going to say about this, but thought I would ask anyway.
There is a passage marked 'solo' on the bass, at fig. 167, in the famous section (featured most in Suite 2) which is in four sharps and goes back and forth across the break, and is pretty obviously untypical of bass writing. When looking at the part as a whole my impression is that Ravel wanted the lower bass notes in places, but did not want the player to have to change instruments, so he uses the bass also as a de facto 3rd clarinet simply by writing up the octave. To me, the above passage seems like that. Having listened to a recording, I cannot see anything particularly bassy about it.
Leaving aside a lack of time for change over (sadly, a real issue), it seems to me that it could be transcribed onto soprano A clarinet and would be much easier and better. My question is whether anyone (particularly professional bass players) have ever done that, and, if so, whether Maestro noticed.
Expecting the usual stuff about respecting the composer's wishes, but it does seem so obviously better.
Thanks
graham
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The Clarinet BBoard
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