Klarinet Archive - Posting 000072.txt from 1999/12

From: "Dodgshun family" <dodgshun@-----.nz>
Subj: Re: [kl] Debussy's Premiere Rhapsodie
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 02:58:28 -0500

> I just ordered Premiere Rhapsodie by debussy
> and i was wondering If i could have some opinions on it. I haven't seen
it
> yet but i heard it was interesting solo, and i wanted to play something
> different than the mozart solos i've been playing for the last few years.
> Has anyone played this?
> Do you consider it more difficult than Mozarts Clarinet Concerto?
> Is there anything in particular I can do to make it sound as nice as
possible?

I've learnt it twice. This is because I did it three years ago for an exam,
and then completely re-hashed it with a different teacher this year - pretty
much amounted to re-learning it. Technically there are some very awkward
spots. You say in another posting that you have good finger movement speed,
which is going to be helpful when you learn this piece. It really tests
almost everything - there are some fast and furious bits, passages which
need to be loud without being strident, some sections which have to be
really soft but still clearly audible (ie you have to project) and there's
some nasty articulation! Might also be an idea to get hold of a French
dictionary - there are some obscure markings which I had to look up. If you
plan on performing it, give your pianist a lot of time to learn it - it's a
horrendously hard part!

It's difficult to judge whether it's harder than the Mozart. Technically,
it probably is. Musically, I don't think so. Personally I think that the
Mozart is one of the hardest pieces out there because it has to be SO right.
(Yes? No? Flames?) Much as I love the piece, I don't often play it because I
don't feel I can do it justice. There are many levels of performance in
every piece, and because I can't get to the level I feel the Mozart should
be played at, I don't play it (Maybe I'm being too hard on myself. I'm not
sure). The Debussy is not as complex as the Mozart in this way. Debussy
was a lot more explicit in writing what he wanted, so if you follow the
performance directions, you'll pretty much be playing it as it should be.
But with Mozart, well, who knows?

This has gone on more than I intended it to. In conclusion, the Debussy is
a great piece, but learn it at a slow speed. Once you've done that, you'll
find it
falls under the hands quite nicely at a faster tempo. Control is also very
important. The first time I played it, my breath control wasn't all that
great. Now,
particularly since I've been doing bass work, it's improved and the piece
was much easier. But most of all, enjoy it. It's not as Impressionist as
most of Debussy's stuff, which is why I found it interesting. I love
Debussy's writing, and I enjoyed finding something different.

Anna

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