The parts may all be fingered alike, but every instrument in a family is a different instrument, and it will only be played WELL by someone who has put considerable time and effort into mastering it. Bass clarinet is NOT just a big soprano clarinet, and a soprano clarinetist holding a bass clarinet will NOT sound like an accomplished bass clarinetist. Same thing with Eb clarinet. Which means that the orchestra will likely have to hire additional players who do own and specialize in the bass instruments.
John
As a clarinettist and bassoonist I can testify that this is hooey. I have played professionally on every size of clarinet from Ab piccolo to contrabass; it takes about 30 minutes to master any one of these if you play the regular clarinet well, and once you have mastered them you have the skill for life. Bassoon vs. contrabassoon is a bit more complex, since the fingering systems differ, but there too an hour or so of practice will give you a lifelong facility on the contra.
Would anyone put up with a sax or recorder player who said "sorry, my high professional standards require that I play only tenor"? I think not.
What this is really about is turf protection. The first desk player plays only one size not as a musically necessary requirement, but as a mark of status. I regard this as grotesquely unprofessional--maybe a cynic would say "grotesquely professional," I don't know. I do know I wouldn't put up with it. "You won't play anything but timpani? Fine, the timp. in this piece will be played by one of the general percussionists. You won't play English horn? Fine, We'll play Haydn's 22nd without you."
-- Andrew Stiller Kallisti Music Press
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