Klarinet Archive - Posting 000181.txt from 1996/06

From: Delton Sizemore <sizemod@-----.AU>
Subj: Re: Finzi Bagatelles
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 23:18:05 -0400

On Tue, 11 Jun 1996, Fogle, Bill wrote:

> I'd like to hear from anyone who has had success (enjoyed) playing these
> bagatelles unaccompanied. I'm trying to read through them, and I'm having
> trouble connecting the dots. Does anyone have suggestions/experiences? Bill
> Fogle.
>
I have long enjoyed these pieces with such contrast between them. It is
a challenge to play the No 4 with great beauty even although it's not
technically difficult. The Carol is an extraordinarily simple piece and
must be played as such. The challenge for me is the final Fugetta. I
would not consider playing this piece in particular without the piano. IMHO
It is
essential to the composition and technically necessary for the player to be
able to play them through (up to speed) without getting out of sync with the
piano......quite a feat for me at this stage of my development. Jack
Brymer descibes them as excellent pieces and the Fughetta as a
masterpiece of musical craftmanship. Also some of these pieces are in our
Australian Music Board Exam syllabus (if that means anything)

Also I have found a couple of interesting fingering challenges (in no.1
and no. 4) which I hadn't come across before. If you play them you'll
soon know which bars I am referring to when you come to them !!!

I suppose not every one has access to a pianist regularly. I am
fortunate to have one who is a excellent sight reader and only charges
$20 per hour. So every week I put $20 aside and with our Yamaha Grand
spend time going through piece after piece of clarinet repertoir. It has
reaped great dividends.

Del Sizemore
Lismore
Australia