Klarinet Archive - Posting 001103.txt from 1998/05

From: Shouryu Nohe <jnohe@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Fall Marching Show
Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 17:19:18 -0400

> Our high school band just got the music for our fall marching show. We are
> playing "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and "Gloria" movements two and three
> by John Rutter. Did anybody else already get there marching music for the
> fall. I just think it is a little bit early. Has anybody ever played this or
> did this as a marching show. How difficult are the low brass parts? Our
> director asked us if any of us wanted to play a low brass instrument since
> most of our section is going to college. I was wondering if any body who
> plays either the clarinet, saxophone, or flute has played any of these. How
> difficult is it to switch? Will I be able to learn how to play one over the
> summer? Which one should I pick? Thanks for your help.

Now THAT's spooky. Joshua and I marched both of those tunes (and took
state) in high school. Granted, we marched Bright and Beautiful one year
and Gloria the next (Josh's frosh, my soph, then our soph/junior). I
would rather suggest to your director to do more than just two movements
(depending on which ones he's already doing). Start with Andante Moderato
(requires a trumpet soloist who can hit a high D), then on the last note,
move straight into Allegro Vivace, as the Cavaliers did (was that '93?).
Then do Bright and Beautiful. (We played On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss -
Holsinger). Then finish off with Vivace Ritmico. (Ala Cavaliers - if you
can, try and match the grueling 200 bmp pace, it's well worth it!)
If I had my way, I'd start with Bright and Beautiful, then do
Gloria as a set, but it seems rather traditional for marching shows to put
the sonorous, melodic song between the crowd screamers. Part of this
(specifically in the case of this show) is mainly just because you'll want
to open the show with Andante Moderato - it's about the best opening
fanfare for a marching show. As far as it goes, there are only two other
ways to open a show than Gloria Andante Ritmico, and that's either the
20th Century Fox Fanfare, or the Planet Krypton Fanfare. They're
gauranteed to get the crowds screaming early - they'll be on the edge of
their seat for the rest of the show, drooling for more until you nail the
last note.
As for low brass parts, Bright and Beautiful is nothing to fret
about, but tuning skills need to be sharp (no pun intended). Gloria, on
the other hand, may present a challenge to a player new to the instrument.
In fact, Gloria relies heavily on duality between the Mellos and the
bones/tones. I played the bass clarinet parts, which is nothing more than
the bone/tone and tuba parts melded together. If they are transcribed by
Salzman (who did the Cavaliers arrangement), you'll have a pretty wide
tessatura to cover - a good three octaves. If you can handle it, more
power to ya! Good luck to your band!

BTW, anyone know what label has the full recording of Gloria? My HS band
director had a CD - loved hearing it, just because it sounded fantastic in
voice...

Shouryu Nohe
Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe; ICQ 6771552
Coffee Drinker, Musician, Otaku, Jesus Freak, Admirer of Women
(Not necessarily in that order)
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