Klarinet Archive - Posting 000169.txt from 1997/04

From: Don and Cindy Christensen <chr@-----.DE>
Subj: Re: Tutor = Method
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 16:28:25 -0500

>I believe the author is referring to etudes, which, as I'm sure you =
>know, are pieces written with the intention of teaching the performer =
>and improving his/her technique. (Etude-French for "study".) I can't =
>think of any other way that a specific composer would be referenced. =
>This, then, would not be the same as a method book, which implies a =
>collection of many etude-type pieces and repertoire excerpts, usually =
>accompanied by information about the instrument, breathing, scales, and =
>all that good stuff. Personally, I've always preferred etudes to method =
>books for the purposes of studying and improvement.

>>Hello everyone,

>> What exactly is a clarinet tutor? I came across this term
>>in the book, "Mozart Clarinet Concerto," by Colin Lawson, in which he refers
>>to
>>clarinet tutors by Backofen and Lefevre. Would an appropriate synonym be
>>"clarinet method book?"
>> Any information is greatly appreciated!

The term "tutor" is often used in Britain instead of the word "method."
The Lefevre tutor is actually titled "Methode" in its original French
publication (1802). It contains a long essay about different aspects of
playing (BTW, Lefevre played with the reed up) followed by musical
material intended to help a musically literate student learn the 5-keyed
clarinet (though he advertises the 6th key he added - c#/g#). Backofen
actually published 2 methods or tutors:
Anweisung zur Klarinette nebst einer kurzen Abhandlung ueber das
Basset-Horn (Instruction for the Clarinet along with a short treatise
about the basset horn) (first for the 5-key clarinet and in 1824 for
13-key)
Neue theoretisch-praktische Klarinettenschule nebst einer kurzen
Abhandlung ueber das Basset-Horn (New theoretic and applied Clarinet
Method [tutor] along with a short treatise about the basset horn)

Don Christensen
chr@-----.de