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Which shows require a low C bass clarinet?

7K views 19 replies 11 participants last post by  qwerty 
#1 ·
I play in pits as often as possible, mainly clarinet with some sax and flute, usually for local high schools. Sometimes the book has some bass clarinet, which I don't have (yet). Borrowing uncertain school horns is getting old--and I'm enjoying the bass clarinet--so I'm planning to buy my own this fall. Whether or not to get a low C instrument depends on money (obviously) but also on how much it's really needed. I expect I'll use it mainly for shows, so my question is: which shows actually require the notes below E flat?

My experience (possibly not remembered correctly):

  • Beauty and the Beast (reed 3): needs low D
  • Crazy for You (reed 4): only one low D (inconsequential)--and nothing below E flat in the reed 5 book
  • Little Women (reed 1): several low D's but not essential
  • Oliver! (reed 3): not needed (I think)

Of the shows you have played on bass clarinet, which need an low-C instrument, and which can be played with a low-E flat instrument?

Thanks.

Scott
 
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#3 ·
I've done a fair number of shows and can't remember much below Eb for bass clarinet. My thought is that you may not encounter the need for that note in the traditional popular shows from the 40s and 50s, because the low C horn wasn't utilized much back then.

Me, I'd be wary about forking over an extra $2K for three extra notes when those notes are really quite rare. I only have a low Eb horn and anytime I come across those notes in a show, I simply take them up the octave and no one (except me) knows the difference. But if money is no object, I'd have me that low C!
 
#11 ·
Heh, when I was buying mine, my wife's advice was "buy all the notes!". I got the low C Buffet and never regretted spending the extra money; you do run across the low notes occasionally, and there are also times when it's fun to take the notes *down* the octave, not up! :D

Kiss Me Kate (the newer rental edition) needs a low C bass.
I'm playing KMK (1998 revision) right now, though on the reed 2 book; will ask the reed 4 player how much subterranean playing is called for.
 
#5 ·
I'd say rare to very rare.

I'd suggest contacting Bret Pimentel. He's a woodwind specialist and keeps a web page of Broadway musicals and their respective woodwind books with all the horns needed (though it doesn't say anything about specific bass clarinet notes). He might be as good a source as anybody. http://bretpimentel.com/resources/

My advice? Unless you have money to spare, buy an Eb. A low C is really only worth having if you're a full-time professional and will be doing modern orchestra gigs where you will absolutely have to have it.

Sure it's nice to play the part as written, but it'd be unwise to allow yourself this luxury if you really don't need it. Allow yourself the luxury of being kind to your wallet instead.

Another reason for the Eb--I once borrowed a friend's low C to play in a symphonic orchestra where it was absolutely needed. The low C is much heavier than the Eb and the larger case is a real pain to carry around. I was very happy to return it to my friend and get rid of it.
 
#10 ·
I'd suggest contacting Bret Pimentel.
Hello.

I'm happy to hear from nice internet people. However, all the information I have is on the site--unfortunately I don't have additional facts and figures on low-E-flat-versus-low-C. If I ever have that information, it will be on the site.

Bret's site does list where low C basses are called for, but you have to look at the listings in detail.
I do list that information if I can get it. Usually the only way I get it is if someone who has actually seen the book gets in touch. If a show doesn't specify low C, then it might not require low C, or I might not have complete information. Y'all are welcome to submit comments like "no low C required for bass clarinet on reed 3" about shows you have played.

BP
 
#6 ·
Jeeze.... I've played quite a few shows and I think I've only had maybe 3 where the base clarinet part had notes below low Eb. I played them up an octave, or omitted it all together if I needed to grab a breath.
Most 'non-professional' pit players can get along with a standard low Eb bass, but it sure would be nice to have the low C for those rare occasions....
 
#13 ·
I'm jumping into this thread a little late, but that's what I get for being MIA from this forum for a while ha!

The reed 2 book on Grey Gardens needs a low C bass-when I played that show a few years back, I remember there was one number that had a whole pile of low D's in an arpeggiated line, so the low D was the bottom of the arpeggio. I believe there were D's/C#s in a few other numbers too

Also the reed 3 book on the touring productions of Elf requires a low C. That book used to have bassoon in it that got transposed to bass, and of course bassoons have a range to a low Bb which corresponds to the low C on the extended bass.
 
#20 ·
Found a couple of low C#'s and one low C, as well. The C and C#'s could be played up the octave....A couple of the low D's are really nice in the low octave as part of some arpeggios... While I would not call them essential, the reed section really sounds really fat when I land on them, and not nearly as full when I play them 8va.
 
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