Klarinet Archive - Posting 000410.txt from 1996/07

From: Vicki Matteson <VMatteson@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Clarinet Jobs & Brahms in Band
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 14:32:16 -0400

This is my first post to the list after being content to sit back and enjoy
the postings for the past few months, but this topic is a topic close to my
heart as I am a 22 year music educator who happens to be a clarinet player.

As mentioned by Dan on this list...yes...it is BAND, and you don't play
Brahms in BAND (unless it is a transcription) BUT you do learn many, many
vital skills!! ...Which can be transfered to orchestral work as well as it
being a two way street (bringing orchestral understanding to band
literature).

One of my favorite conductors over the years was very fond of saying "I don't
want you to sound like a band...I want you to be an orchestra who just
happens to have NO violins!"

The opportunities for solo work are fewer, but when they do come I find the
GREAT PLAYERS are as enthusiastic and well versed at playing these passages
as well as fitting into the ensemble picture.

In the end it boils down to the love of music and yes, the training...whether
it is years spent studying the orchestral literature or years of performance
study with BAND performing on the side.

Some of the greatest musicians I have run accross have been avid BAND
supporters/performers without the "orchestral attitude" so prevelent in the
music world. There are as many great composers writing for todays band or
wind ensemble. It is NOT the band as an institution's fault that it wasen't
really around in an organized fashion for Bach or Brahms or Beethoven to
write for although Gabrielli loved those trumpets! Hindemith certainly
found a way to be musically satisfied in writing for band...somehow I suspect
Mozart would have gotten a great charge out of writing in this idiom, if
given the chance, given his love for the clarinet!

Military bands do pose a problem with more restrictions on their players, but
if you want to play bad enough and can't seem to land one of the coveted
orchestral spots which are so sought after and so few...maybe with the bottom
line of a paycheck and the job security the military offers...it's not such a
bad deal. (Two of my former students both play with the Marine Band in DC,
travel the world, meet all kinds of interesting people and still manage to be
terrific performers, arrangers, assistant conductors, raise a family, in
short be human and find great satisfaction both musically and personally.)
Although not for me personally...I feel as performance organizations these
groups do a more then adequate job of performing and MAKING MUSIC then some
of the so called great orchestras...regional orchestras, etc. At least they
know where their next meal is coming from and have VERY steady gigs to fill
their plate.

There are also many opportunities open to them for chamber groups...which is
where much of the greatest music making takes place and the understanding of
musical style which is studied for years by many is put to great use as well
as bring musical satisfaction.

Guess I agree with our Canadian friend...if I wanted to perform band
enough...the military bands wouldn't be such a band place even with its
inconveniences and petty annoyances. Some of us have a higher tolerance rate
for such nonsense!

Vicki