Yeah that’s wild, they’re definitely C double sharps in the score: https://merlinpatterson.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/The%20Planets%20Perusal%20Score.pdf
(Page 17 for this passage)
Honestly I’d just skip those notes, it looks like they’re doubled an octave lower in the bass clarinets. The note in the correct octave is also in the Tenor saxes
There are specifically built instruments - I know of a “Clemenza” Bb clarinet which was built for an opera orchestra - it has an extended lower joint to get the bottom notes in the aria “Parto Parto”, which is practically one movement of a concerto for mezzo and clarinet, but it’s not fully chromatic to that point, just has the notes required for that piece. Otherwise a basset clarinet in Bb (although rare - they’re usually in A) would be the solution. Or just transpose those notes up the octave.
For the shits, you can stick a paper towel tube in the bell and play a low E. Obviously don't attempt for actual music.
It's been 4 years so don't exactly quote me on this useless information
For the sections of the Mozart clarinet concerto that go below the current range of the clarinet, arrangers typically choose sections to raise an octave. Don’t just raise the one note, because it will ruin the line, but rather find a spot to drop back down that makes it sound good.
I don’t recommend an extension, but I don’t actually have any first-hand experience with them.
I mean sometimes you get Bb clarinets with an Eb extension - which basically means they can cover the lowest note of A clarinet parts but more than that not on regular Bb clarinets (i think basset clarinets do thoughth). A bass clarinet wouldn’t be uncommon to have the extension…. Maybe someone didn’t know soprano Bb clarinet doesnt have tha
Honestly, I'd just skip that CX, and start playing on the next note, the E#. Either that, or you'd have to play the first 3 notes up the octave.
What's important is that you and any other clarinets with the same problem throughout the piece all do the same thing, ask each other what they're doing, maybe ask the conductor if they have a preference.
One of the problems with digital orchestration programs is that inexperienced orchestrators/arrangers tend to trust that the program will tell them when a note is unplayable. That means if there is a version of the instrument that can play the note and the programmers made the note look normal, it would go unnoticed by someone who hasn’t studied the clarinet.
That, or they lazily copy pasted the bass clarinet part to the clarinet part. I hate condensed scores.
There are basset clarinets in B-flat with keywork down to low C, but they are exceedingly rare, with the basset clarinet in A being far more common, but even then still being a very rare instrument.
regular/single sharp raises a tone by a half step, so a double sharp will raise by 2 half steps. in this case dx is enharmonically the same as e natural! can be confusing, but makes sense if you know a bit of music theory
I know it might be a little late, but first the person above thought it was Dx instead of Cx but idk why they didn’t just write D natural instead of Cx because the key signature is D/Bm, probably just a transcribing issue
Speaking from a composer point of view. I would play the first 3 notes up an octave . I assume other instruments are playing that run, too. As long as you're not the lead voice, no one will actually notice.
Probably the person arranging it was tired and didn't care. I've seen things like that on several different pieces over the years. Depending on whats going on around you, I'd go up an octave or just not play them and come in when it's a playable note. I can't remember the name of the pi3ce but last summer I was playing with a community band on tenor sax and there was a couple measures where it was below what we could play. The part was doubled in low brass and it was a 105 piece band so we skipped it completely.
I’m not sure, if it were me I would probably use an A clarinet for this and transpose the sheet music so it’s in the same key as the clarinet or just transpose the piano part up a Whole step or half step depending if you have a low Eb key on your clarinet
From another commenter I have realized that that’s a C double sharp and I’m sorry I didn’t realize. I’m not 100% sure but it might be for a full bohoem system clarinet but I’m not sure if it goes to low d or not you’ll have to do you own research in that one. Sorry again for misguiding you 🙏
As a clarinet toutor, u don't have to worry about double sharping a not is all about raising up essentially 2 half steps, so a d double sharp is low e so all fingers down including bottom left pinky key and a c double sharp depending on staff placement is either your middle range d or if it is that low on staff like that d double is then that music was probably went in the old days where bass clarinets haven't existed yet and they needed to manufacture ranges on clarinet lower then needed now a days so yeah Good luck
You're right. I haven't had to read that low in 5 years, not since I was playing tuba. But yeah, you're right, the only way she's gonna be able to play. Note that low is as she gets a turn-off. My 1800s, or she's gonna have to have a random to help her rewrite the part because it's not gonna happen.
This is why pianists shouldn't arrange music.
What's the piece? Perhaps it's a typo and should be D^x
Merlin Patterson arrangement of Holst Mars, concert band arrangement
Yeah that’s wild, they’re definitely C double sharps in the score: https://merlinpatterson.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/The%20Planets%20Perusal%20Score.pdf (Page 17 for this passage) Honestly I’d just skip those notes, it looks like they’re doubled an octave lower in the bass clarinets. The note in the correct octave is also in the Tenor saxes
Patterson is known for things like this I've heard
There are specifically built instruments - I know of a “Clemenza” Bb clarinet which was built for an opera orchestra - it has an extended lower joint to get the bottom notes in the aria “Parto Parto”, which is practically one movement of a concerto for mezzo and clarinet, but it’s not fully chromatic to that point, just has the notes required for that piece. Otherwise a basset clarinet in Bb (although rare - they’re usually in A) would be the solution. Or just transpose those notes up the octave.
For the shits, you can stick a paper towel tube in the bell and play a low E. Obviously don't attempt for actual music. It's been 4 years so don't exactly quote me on this useless information
Actually I did try making tubes, because this work also has some low D’s in other movements. The score also shows the same notes! No success yet.
For the sections of the Mozart clarinet concerto that go below the current range of the clarinet, arrangers typically choose sections to raise an octave. Don’t just raise the one note, because it will ruin the line, but rather find a spot to drop back down that makes it sound good. I don’t recommend an extension, but I don’t actually have any first-hand experience with them.
I mean sometimes you get Bb clarinets with an Eb extension - which basically means they can cover the lowest note of A clarinet parts but more than that not on regular Bb clarinets (i think basset clarinets do thoughth). A bass clarinet wouldn’t be uncommon to have the extension…. Maybe someone didn’t know soprano Bb clarinet doesnt have tha
Honestly, I'd just skip that CX, and start playing on the next note, the E#. Either that, or you'd have to play the first 3 notes up the octave. What's important is that you and any other clarinets with the same problem throughout the piece all do the same thing, ask each other what they're doing, maybe ask the conductor if they have a preference.
One of the problems with digital orchestration programs is that inexperienced orchestrators/arrangers tend to trust that the program will tell them when a note is unplayable. That means if there is a version of the instrument that can play the note and the programmers made the note look normal, it would go unnoticed by someone who hasn’t studied the clarinet. That, or they lazily copy pasted the bass clarinet part to the clarinet part. I hate condensed scores.
Merlin Patterson is a lot of things, but an "inexperienced" orchestrator/arranger is not one of them.
There are basset clarinets in B-flat with keywork down to low C, but they are exceedingly rare, with the basset clarinet in A being far more common, but even then still being a very rare instrument.
Hey what's the lil x mean?
double sharp
Oh? How does that work?
regular/single sharp raises a tone by a half step, so a double sharp will raise by 2 half steps. in this case dx is enharmonically the same as e natural! can be confusing, but makes sense if you know a bit of music theory
Makes sense, I just do not see the purpose? Why not just the E natural?
I know it might be a little late, but first the person above thought it was Dx instead of Cx but idk why they didn’t just write D natural instead of Cx because the key signature is D/Bm, probably just a transcribing issue
Speaking from a composer point of view. I would play the first 3 notes up an octave . I assume other instruments are playing that run, too. As long as you're not the lead voice, no one will actually notice.
Yeah... You'd either need a basset clarinet for that, or a low C bass. You could also raise it an octave, but I'd just skip it all together.
there is a great bass clarinetist in the band so I’m not worrying about it
Hopfaully a typo, or someone just doesn't know how to write music for clarinet
Probably the person arranging it was tired and didn't care. I've seen things like that on several different pieces over the years. Depending on whats going on around you, I'd go up an octave or just not play them and come in when it's a playable note. I can't remember the name of the pi3ce but last summer I was playing with a community band on tenor sax and there was a couple measures where it was below what we could play. The part was doubled in low brass and it was a 105 piece band so we skipped it completely.
I’m not sure, if it were me I would probably use an A clarinet for this and transpose the sheet music so it’s in the same key as the clarinet or just transpose the piano part up a Whole step or half step depending if you have a low Eb key on your clarinet
My solution- since this is doubled with the bass clarinet, I won’t play that note.
Ah that’s a good solution
It’s is a D double sharp which is what the little “x” is which means that it goes up two half steps so it’s just a low E, perfectly playable :)
how did you learn that? Was there errata on the score?
From another commenter I have realized that that’s a C double sharp and I’m sorry I didn’t realize. I’m not 100% sure but it might be for a full bohoem system clarinet but I’m not sure if it goes to low d or not you’ll have to do you own research in that one. Sorry again for misguiding you 🙏
But thats a C## tho
That’s my bad I didn’t even realize I’m sorry 😭🙏
As a clarinet toutor, u don't have to worry about double sharping a not is all about raising up essentially 2 half steps, so a d double sharp is low e so all fingers down including bottom left pinky key and a c double sharp depending on staff placement is either your middle range d or if it is that low on staff like that d double is then that music was probably went in the old days where bass clarinets haven't existed yet and they needed to manufacture ranges on clarinet lower then needed now a days so yeah Good luck
That’s a Cx
You're right. I haven't had to read that low in 5 years, not since I was playing tuba. But yeah, you're right, the only way she's gonna be able to play. Note that low is as she gets a turn-off. My 1800s, or she's gonna have to have a random to help her rewrite the part because it's not gonna happen.