Klarinet Archive - Posting 000201.txt from 1995/07

From: thehat@-----.ORG
Subj: Milhaud Concerto
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 1995 20:25:02 -0400

I have worked on this Concerto, but have not performed it. Its lack of
popularity is most likely due to 3 things: difficulty, length and the fact
that few people know it even exists.

The demands of the solo part are extreme, almost as difficult as the
Francaix, but there are stretches (like the last 2/3 of the 1st movement)
where there are no rests at all not even a 1/8 rest, making endurance a
big factor. Once you get through the first movement, the 2nd is full of
fast tonguing, etc. etc.

Good luck with the piece, it has many lovely moments and it is certainly
one of Milhaud's best clarinet works. There is an excellent recording of
it by Maurice Gabai, a terrific player and a very impressive technician,
which was available on a Cebilia LP. I don't know if there are any cds of
the work available, but the Gabai is worth finding. Incidentally, Benny
Goodman (dedicatee) never performed this work. Hope this helps.

-David Hattner

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This copy of Freddie 1.2.5 is being evaluated.