Clarinets in the Rite of Spring

Question

I am studying a miniature score of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (Dover Miniature Scores). For the clarinets, I see this in the instrumentation page:

Clarinetto piccolo (D, Es)

3 Clarinetti (B, A) (Cl. II = Cl. b. II)

Clarinetto basso (B) (= Cl. IV)

This appears to be Italian but with German notes.

Alongside, there is the English:

Small Clarinet (D, E♭)

3 Clarinets (B♭, A)(Cl. II = Bass Cl.II)

Bass Clarinet (B♭) (= Cl. IV)

So, we need 5 players but the number of instruments is less clear. Using some invented names to make discussion easier.

Alice plays the small clarinets. She needs a D and an E♭.

Bob plays only a standard clarinet. He needs an A and B♭.

Carol mostly plays a standard clarinet but may be required to play a second bass. She needs an A, B♭ and a bass.

David, like Bob, plays only a standard clarinet. He needs an A and B♭.

Elizabeth mostly pass the bass but may be called on to play 4th regular clarinet. She needs a bass and one or both of an A and B♭.

It is Elizabeth's role that is least clear to me.

If I am correct, between them, there are:

1 D

1 E♭

3 or 4 A

3 or 4 B♭

2 bass

So, 10, 11, or 12 depending on the interpretation of Elizabeth's role.

I will examine the score in more detail later to try to find more clues.

Note that this question was originally combined with one on the bass clarinet notation. I have split them.

Answer 1

The instrumentation page in the Dover score is incorrect. If you closely look at the score and the parts you will see:

• Clarinet III plays Bass Clarinet II (and never plays A clarinet).
• Bass Clarinet I plays only bass (there is no Clarinet IV).

So a total of nine instruments are needed.

• E♭, D

• I. B♭, A

• II. B♭, A

• III. B♭, bass
• bass

Note: since D clarinets are quite rare, the player will very often transpose those parts for E-flat clarinet.