Klarinet Archive - Posting 000047.txt from 1994/04

From: James Langdell <James.Langdell@-----.COM>
Subj: RIgoletto Fantasy
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 1994 18:13:43 -0400

Kory Vrieze <KVRIEZE@-----.EDU> wrote:
>I have a photocopy of the Verdi Rigeletto that was used as an study piece
>in my undergraduate program. The copy li st the copyright date as in the
>1920's or 30's (I forgot to bring it with me to the computer) but the
>publisher has been cut off. Does anyone know anything about this piece?
>I would like to get a new copy but I'm afraid it isn't published anymore.

You're probably thinking of a "Concert Fantasy on Themes from Verdi's
Rigoletto" by Luigi Bassi. I've performed from a clarinet/piano edition
put out by Carl Fischer; that might still be in print.

I'd recommend getting familiar with the opera itself; track down
what the original arias are for each part of the fantasy and
be aware of the words that go with the notes. The more you
can have the excerpts grounded in your imagination with some original
dramatic content in your imagination, the better chance that the florid
variations of these themes will carry some message to a listerner other
than "Wow, there sure are a lot of fast notes going by there."

Also listen to a recording of similar works for cornet and piano
performed by Gerard Schwartz (cornet) and William Bolcom (piano):
"Cornet Favorites" recorded by Elektra/Nonesuch. The original LP
of this music was a revelation to me, as to what value *could* be
found by playing up the honest values of this debased musical
genre. Bolcom even makes repetitive boom-chunk-boom-chunk piano
backups sing; accompaniaments by other hands on additional CD
selections (gleaned from other Nonesuch LPs) are not as effective,
though. (Dan, you can hear Herbert L. Clarke's "Bride of the Waves"
on this recording as well.)

After I heard this recording, I specifically picked Bassi's fantasy
as a piece to practice to apply to the clarinet what I had learned
by listening to Schwartz's cornet.

I performed this piece a number of times as part of a operatic
troupe that performed (mainly at senior centers) programs with
lightly-staged opera scenes, arias, and art songs. As part of
a whole Verdi segments (which included me playing the clarinet
lines for a "Force of Destiny" scene), I played the Bassi fantasy
while the singers changed some costumes. I was astonished at how
well received this piece was at nearly every performance!
There *is* a time and a place for it--though perhaps it shouldn't
be programmed as makeweight in an evening between both Brahms sonatas...

--James Langdell jamesc@-----.com
Sun Microsystems Mountain View, Calif.