Author: tripler
Date: 2022-04-01 00:43
First, my granddaughter auditioned at the prestigious (music) La Guardia High School in NYC on Bb clarinet and was accepted. She chose to play bass clarinet. As a star basketball and soccer player, she is not used to taking the easy road on anything she does.
Second, I play four clarinets and three saxes, and in our excellent community band I choose to play bass clarinet. In the past, when the clarinet was my only instrument, I played principal clarinet in several community bands and orchestras, and sometimes second and third. If I'm not going to be the principal then my next choice is bass clarinet.
Yes, in wind bands there's a lot of doubling (for all instruments) but with bass clarinet there are two types of parts that I relish: 1) keeping the rhythm (and often counter-rhythms) and 2) juicy accompaniments; not to mention the rare solo. As a conductor once told me, when a soloist is waxing eloquently in the high register, the bassy accompanist must support the soloist. In those situations, I listen like mad to every nuance the soloist might make, and work hard to adjust my sound to complement the soloist perfectly. Very satisfying.
One night, when the young bass clarinetist sitting next to me was timidly accompanying the alto, I reprimanded him, saying: "Don't let that alto overwhelm you, play out." The next time, he did much better, and so did the music.
I learned a long time ago on the street, playing parade marches, the trumpets and other treble instruments have the melody, but the basses have the drama. Also true in the concert hall.
Yes, the bass clarinet has fewer sixteenth quavers, but an enthusiastic and assertive player can contribute dramatically to the music.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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