Writing for Eb Clarinet

Hey all,

I'm currently orchestrating a piece and was wondering does it make it any easier to write Eb clarinet with sharps or flats? I suppose to sight read it may look nicer if I avoid double sharps or flats but is there any set-in-stone guide, or is it all upto interpretation. The piece itself is pretty much atonal so I think I have relative freedom, also would a performer scorn me if I wrote one section in sharps and one in flats?

Thanks,

Chris

I'm wondering why you think this is a matter only pertaining to Eb Clarinet? Have you had any experience with the instrument to tell you it doesn't play either sharps or flats well? This is not the case - it plays just like a regular clarinet. And even so, any player can play sharps and flats equally well. If you think about it, all an F# is is a Gb, so why wouldn't they be the same?

Is this what you meant?

Yeah I think so, I just thought it might be easier if I wrote it with as few accidentals as possible to make it slightly easier to sight read.

I'm quite familiar with Eb Clarinet, and I'll say that I feel more comfortable with flats than sharps, but it really does depend on the key you're in. I have colleagues who definitely feel the opposite.

If you'd care to post a sample, I'd be happy to review it for playability and readability.

Typically, (Through all the clarinetists I know) Flat Clarinets are better with flat keys, while sharp clarinets (A Clarinet) are better with sharps. Or at least that is what several have told me.

But really, they can play any note. Keeping the accidentals down is good for any instrument.

As a general rule, any part written for a clarinet will sound best and lay easiest for the fingers if it is in C, or up to 3 flats, or 3 sharps for that particularly pitched clarinet. Outside of that, the fingerings become cumbersome.

Outside of that, the fingerings become cumbersome.

Which I delight in giving clarinetists a piece that starts in C, but travels through C#, F#, E, Ab, Db and back to C.

Alright, Number one- Just like any other instrument, it isn't either harder or easier to play sharps or flats, but to play IN A KEY. Generally, you're good enough at the regular (Bb) Clarinet by the time you play the Eb Clarinet, and if you are even a good musician, you will learn to play in almost every key fluently. I can play (on Bb and Eb Clarinet) in any key up to five sharps and flats with little trouble... just practice.

Also, the Eb Clarinet is an instrument expected to read lots of flats due to that wonderful thing called Transposition. G major in the Eb Clarinet pary would be Bb major in concert pitch, so it is unlikely that the Eb Clarinet will have more than three or four sharps, unless you write in obscure keys. A good Clarinetist will be able to play in at least five sharps or flats without much trouble.

The simple answer- If you intend the piece to be practiced, then it shouldn't matter what accidentals you write.

The simple answer- If you intend the piece to be practiced, then it shouldn't matter what accidentals you write.

...which is good advice. If you're in the professional world, however, you may be lucky to get one run-through before recording.

Write to your expected comfort level. :)

If you think about it, all an F# is is a Gb, so why wouldn't they be the same?

Tell that to a string player and he'll decapitate you :P A flat is not the same as a sharp. Just because it happens to be so on the piano it doesn't mean it's the same for other instruments, especially for instruments which tend towards just intonation instead of equal temperament (strings, voice etc). The difference is slight, but there is a difference. You'll see it more clearly if you think how a string player approaches that note. On an F# he goes to F and then goes a bit up, while on a Gb he thinks of G and then a bit down.

But notational-wise, all professional players are able to read flats and sharps equally well. I generally use flats when the movement is downwards and sharps when the movement is upwards, if it is not a tonal piece.

I persionally feel more comfortable with flats for a Eb clarinet part.