I Need some tips on writing a double bass clarinet concerto in the neo-baroque style

Hello fellow composers! I haven't posted here in a while but anyway, I am writing a short concertino for me and my friend who both play bass clarinet. It will be played with a large symphonic band. So I have a couple of questions maybe you guys (particularly those of you who write concertos) could answer:

1. The bass clarinet is not an especially loud instrument so how do I make sure it doesn't get drowned out in a large band with a particularly large brass section? Should I give most of the instruments lots of rests or should I give everyone PP for most of the piece?

2. Do you guys have any other tips for someone who has never written a concerto? I am aiming for something similar to vivaldi except with a few more modern twists.

Thats all I can think of for now.

Oh and thanks for readng my message. I really apprecieate it.

Bass clarinet not loud?!?

clarinets can play most of their range from pp to ff, and the bass clarinet, I believe, isn't much different. It's main difference is that it had a lower range (obviously :laugh:) and has a slightly warmer/darker tone.

I could be very wrong, though, as I haven't studied the bass clarinet that much...

I wouldn't recommend giving the rest of the instruments rests the whole time because that makes for very bored instrumentalists in the band.

I would recommend that you emphasize a call and return effect between the bass clarinet and the rest of the ensemble so that you can fully develop the entire range of both; without having to worry about how one limits the other.

When playing at the same time, I would recommend just lowering the volume of the ensemble or giving it parts which bring out the clarinet part and make it more evident.

Otherwise, use your knowledge of the instrument to decide what to do with it to make it all come together in the best way possible.

Alternatively, if your presentation venue allows for it, you could request that the bass clarinet be mic'ed, in which case you completely eliminate any of the combination issues you may have had.

Either way, good luck! :laugh:

Verdi_Lver is very right about the expressive range of the Bass Clarinet having the ability to eastily play pp to FF. The Bass Clarinet is a great instrument to write for. The color of the instrument at times can be described as dark, warm, tender, rich. If you understand the flexibility of the Clarinet in general then you can apply the same understanding to the Bass Clarinet. A good player will have not trouble executing agile passages on the instrument. Large intervalic leaps are also quite nice on the instrument.

When it comes to range, you have a lot to work with so don't limit yourself to a particular range on the instrument. I wrote a piece for Bass Clarinet some time ago. Here is a link to the post I made. Its not in the Neo-Baroque style but I hope it can help give you ideas in some way.

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/concertante-c-minor-bass-clarinet-piano-3456.html

thank all of you for replying. I have played the bass clarinet for almost 7 years so I know its capabities. It can play pretty loud but it gets competely drowned out in my band because of the extremely large trumpet section. a bass clarinet cannot compete with 20 trumpets, especially in its lower range. but I think I have this figured out.