The ABRSM gives a list of publications in which the pieces for each grade can be found. Are these books actually obligatory, or can you choose another version. I imagine any differences would be very slight.

For example, Schumann's Fantasy piece for clarinet is in Eb because it was written for the clarinet in A, whereas the piece for ABRSM is in D for the Bb clarinet. No problem there.

But, if someone had both clarinets and both versions of the music, could they choose which one to play? After all, it would sound the same.

Steve - not taking exams, just curious.

I think the clarinet part would have to be in the same key as the one specified, otherwise the upper range could be smaller and less difficult fingerings could be present, or the opposite way around. That's why the piano accompianments are transposed rather than the clarinet line. It wouldn't sound the same - the register changes would be in different places, which can be important. I know one piece that I have transposed to b flat clarinet from a, and it sounds much better on an a even when you can play the b flat version, because of the register change.

Yes, I think the point about difficulty is very important. I hadn't thought about that! In the piece I mentioned, one key is going to make more use of the throat tones - (eg the infamous Bb) than the other.

Though what about the same piece of music but from a different source? What I mean is, do you HAVE to play from the book given in the lists?

Steve

No, it says any edition is fine, although it would still have to be in teh same key. Like the Mozart clarinet concerto, you can get that for B flat or A clarinet, they're exactly the same but the accompianment is transposed. I have 2 B flat versions of the adagio from that, one with a cadenza written in and one without. Do you know if cadenzas are played?

Sorry, I haven't a clue. My only copy of the concerto is this one:

http://www.el-atril.com/partituras/Mozart/conciertos/M64.PDF

Much better played on an A clarinet!

Steve

Strangely, the Schumann doesn't come with a transposed piano part, but transposed clarinet parts. I think this has something to do with the difficulty of a transposed piano part in Bb minor (if played with a Bb clarinet). Technically, there is little difference between the Bb and A versions of this piece in terms of difficulty.

As for the Mozart, yes, it sounds better on an A clarinet. Cadenzas are only played if specified in the syllabus.

However, to play it properly, it needs a Basset Clarinet in A! Sounds WONDERFUL on that instrument!

One of my copies has a written in cadenza and ornaments instead of millions of written out ones. Both have piano accompianments not orchestral ones!! I don't have an A clarinet.