A.S. I'm sorry if this question may seem stupid. I've been playing a the viola since years in many orchestras but I'm still a complete ignorant in the field of woodwinds.
I've been trying to transcribe Wagner's Tannhauser in East West Symphonic Orchestra.
This VST limit the extensions of every instrument by default: while writing the clarinet part I've noticed I couldn't play any note below D2. In the VST, instruments extensions are very accurate when it comes to string so I assume they're correct also for woodwinds and therefore D2 is the lowest note you could play with a clarinet.
However, take a look at this:
Let me explain the problem. The whole ouverture is in E major and the first note is a B2 for all the instruments that plays.
As soon as I saw the notes, I've noticed they need to be transcribed. In the case of the photo above, they need to go down of -3 semitones.
However, if you do that you'll notice that the lower part will go below D2 (and I can't play below D2!).
Why not transpose the clarinet of +9 instead of -3? Perhaps you're just getting the wrong octave? Nope. Unless I'm becoming deaf, there's just one note being played at the beginning and that note is B2 (not B3) so the octave I'm trying to achieve is the correct one. Here, check by yourself: Tannhauser on Youtube
So, what's going on? Is Wagner fooling with the woodwinds? Is the VST fooling with me? Is the score wrong?
Being a string instrument player I've always been in a what you see is what you play mindset. Can someone explain me how does the transportation above works?
EDIT: Yep, according to this page I'm right. Clarinet in A means -3 semitones. How then is even possible to play the part above if a clarinet doesn't go below D2?