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RE: B-flat basics

Author: jez
Date: 2002-12-11 15:25

Bob,
It's all done to make it EASIER for us.
Imagine being a recorder-player and having a selection of instruments of different sizes. Because they DON'T transpose you've got to learn a completely different set of fingerings for each one. The all-fingers-down note might be an F or a C or a D depending on which size you've got hold of. The fact that the fingering SYSTEM is the same is of little help, it's just confusing.
With the clarinet you can play any size (there are enough of them) and you always relate the visual image of the note to a particular fingering so you don't have to worry about it. The composer/arranger/printer does all the work for you.
It's best not to think too much about what note is actually coming out unless you're forced to in order to correct mistakes compared to other instruments.
To play 440Hz on your B flat you dont play A you play B. If you want to play 440Hz on an E flat you play F#.
The strange thing is that the C clarinet has not become the most common as is the case with flute, oboe & bassoon. This is because most people agree that the B flat is the one that sounds best, but remember, there are flutes in B flat and G, oboes in F (English horn) etc.
Originally it was necessary to have instruments in different keys because the early ones were not truly chromatic so to join in with other musicians who could play in any key the relevant-keyed clarinet would be available. Now we've settled on the B flat and A which makes flat & sharp keys easier for us.
Thank God we didn't go the way of the recorder player!
jez

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