> >Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 05:46:12 -0400 (EDT) >From: "Eden - Lawrence D." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Dear Listers, > >What is the best way to write a Contralto Clarinet part for the average >high school player? > >Should I write the part as if it were a bass part and have the contra >pretend the part is in treble clef, or should I write in treble clef and >apply an Eb transposition? > >Thanks. > >Larry >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I thought I'd crawl out of lurkdom for this. High school definitely needs treble clef with Eb transposition. They also need transposing parts for bass clarinet. Many, many times, the low clarinets in high school will be covered by the worst Bb players, resulting in low quality low clarinets. The directors don't want to lose their good Bb players to bass. I didn't get to play bass until college because of that :) I'm a bass clarinet/Bb player, though I'll admit my bass knowledge is not up to professional orchestral standards. I played in my college symphonic bands, and now play in the local community band. I don't have bass orchestral experience. All of my bass music has been treble clef, with appropriate transpositions. If I see a middle C, I play a middle C. No transposing on sight. I'm very comfortable with reading numerous ledger lines, both above and below the staff - after all, I have to do it for Bb clarinet all the time. Recently I bought Symphonic Repertoire for the Bass Clarinet by Michael Drapkin. Even though I don't play in orchestra, I wanted to expand my knowledge. I still don't know how I'm supposed to interpret some of the music. Some is in bass, some is in treble, some for Bb and some for A (please don't EVER write for bass clarinet in A - they are very rare - I don't even know who actively makes them anymore). Honestly, for me jumping between French and German notation is a pain in the butt. As an American bass player, I prefer to see transposing parts in treble clef. At least here in the US, most bass players start as Bb players. Some start bass in high school, but others (like me) didn't get the opportunity until college. Chances are, those players have been playing transposing parts the whole time. I am not against learning to play from other notation styles. As a composer, though, I'm all for making things easier on the players. Yes, logically, a bass instrument would be in bass clef. But personally, I like keeping all my bass music in one clef, which can be done with a transposing part in treble clef. Unlike bass clef, where eventually I'd have to switch to treble for the high notes. Just my few cents, Lori Sutherland Crystal Lake, Illinois _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
