Klarinet Archive - Posting 000678.txt from 1996/04

From: niethamer@-----.BITNET
Subj: Re: Rabaud Solo de Concours
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 23:43:43 -0400

On Thu, 18 Apr 1996, Daniel A. Paprocki wrote:

> IMHO, the faults I find with the Rabaud are: 1) the 1 page cadenza
> - too long for a student to keep musically interesting and not sound like a
> finger study or rush and trip through,

Dan, before I let you have the last word, let me give you my response.
The first page is in three parts, of which the last is in tempo, and not
a cadenza issue. The rest of the page splits nicely in two, and with
guidance from the teacher, the student can recognize sequential material
and how to make it sound musical and give it direction to the points of
arrival.

> 2) the slow movement is far too
> confusing for a student - snail tempo, 32nds, 64ths thriplet 32nds, etc.
> yes it's challenging but isn't it somewhat overpowering?

In a word, no. HS kids at some point get the idea that multiple beams on
notes means the notes are *fast*. Not so, and this 1.) shows that, and
2.) is predictable enough that it can be pretty easily figured out with a
little supervision.

> 3) the last two
> lines, if this is for a student, why this ending? high G last note?
>
If a teacher has decided that this piece is appropriate for a
particularstudent, then they ought
to be ready to produce an acceptable high G, and the teacher ought to be
able to offer some strategies for making it sound like music (as opposed
to "high G").

> I'm making the assumption that the student is a high school
> student. I'd hate to be a contest judge and hear high school players bring
> in this piece without proper guidance.

Yes, but that's another issue. I'm talking about what I think this piece
is good for, and how I'd use it - not about how I'd hate to hear a
self-taught HS kid without the appropriate tools play it at contest.

> on the whole I'd rather see a student work on the Weber Concertino or
> something less intimidating and of more value musically.

In *my* opinion, the Weber Concertino is harder (more sections and tempi
to remember, and a harder "last page"). The call on "musical value" is
just your opinion. I think they both have value, assuming appropriate
ability, and guidance from a teacher.

David Niethamer