Klarinet Archive - Posting 001242.txt from 1998/03

From: "Todd and Lynnette Staley" <nette@-----.net>
Subj: Re: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SECOND
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 19:09:35 -0500

What ever happened to the saying within an ensemble that there are no
unimportant parts? Don't we, by the nature of seating, teach kids from
the beginning that first chair is "the best player" and the others are
less adept the farther back you go? I know from which I speak. I am
surely not in a professional ensemble (this is apparent from the nature of
the egos involved) What would the first or principals be without the
rest of the section, besides boring? It takes everyone to work together
to make an ensemble work, not just one virtuostic player. Please
reprimand me violently if I have offended the sanctity of the subject,
however this subject has become very near to my heart. I will now exit
the soapbox.
Lynnette
--
Todd & Lynnette Staley
email: nette@-----.net

----------
> From: avrahm galper <agalper@-----.com>
> To: klarinet@-----.us
> Subject: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SECOND
> Date: Thursday, March 26, 1998 8:45 AM
>
> Some readers are wondering why the second clarinet
audition has to be
> tough.After all the second isn't playing the solos, just " fill ins."
>
> >From experience I can tell you that the second clarinet has to be very
> very good.
> There are many solos that call for equal partnership and to have the
> second just play a minor role could ruin the whole picture.
>
> Take for instance the beginning of the Tschaikovsky's 5th symphony. A
> long unison solo. The second has to be as good as the first.
> The Age of Anxiety by Bernstein. Two clarinets play a very important
> solo at the beginning.
>
> This I have heard from other pros; a good first could be a good second,
> knowing the ins and outs of playing the clarinet parts.
> I won't enumerate all the solos that go together.Suffice to say that the
> second has to be very very good.
> Another quote from pros: a second can make or break a first.
>
>
> Avrahm Galper
>
> http://www.sneezy.org/avrahm_galper/index.html