On Aug 24, 2007, at 10:29 PM, John Howell wrote:
It's considered prestigious to be the person selected to play the Eb soprano. Same thing is true for the alto, bass, and lower clarinets.
When I was in bands (admittedly a long time ago now) it was definitely *not* prestigious to play the alto clarinet, Playing it was considered evidence that you were not good enough to play even 2d clarinet. Maybe 3d. Most band music, at least of that day, accordingly buries the alto clarinet line where it can't be heard, and never assigns it anything exposed.
I suspect that the orchestral players who play Eb soprano on such things as "Symphonie Fantastique" might take offense.
Chavez, Symphony #2 "Sinfonia India" has an absolutely gorgeous, and quite lengthy, solo for the instrument. Check it out.
Your average professional orchestra includes a "utility clarinet" player who is expected to play (and own!) Bb/ACl, Bscl, Ebcl, Asax, Tsax, or Btsax whenever called upon to do so.
Andrew Stiller Kallisti Music Press http://www.kallistimusic.com/ _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
