Klarinet Archive - Posting 000100.txt from 2000/06

From: @-----.se>
Subj: SV: [kl] Bass-clarinet audition
Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 11:16:06 -0400

What we were primarily looking for in the audition was a =
musician/clarinetist with great ability to switch between bass and =
regular clarinet and with a certain sound concept. Not necessarily a =
soloist type, but a person with great sense for ensemble playing and =
good ears for intonation, phrasing and a flexibility to blend with the =
rest of the w.w.group. A natural musician.=20
In my orchestra the clarinet section setup is: Principal, co-principal, =
2nd/E-flat, 2nd/Bass. We value the second voice just as much as the =
principal and that puts high demands on the second players.=20
After the audition we now have four players who are going to be on trial =
over the next season. Since our program for the next season offers great =
bass parts, it's going to be pretty easy to hear if they live up to the =
expectations. Our w.w. section frequently meet on Tuesday mornings for =
sectional rehearsals or just playing chamber music for winds. In these =
occasions the "trialers" are going to be offered to play both first and =
second parts in a casual atmosphere just to hear what their abilities =
are.=20
One of my own qualities as an instrumentalist is that I can easily =
switch between various types of clarinets (I also made myself a name as =
an early clarinet performer) and I want a future colleague who has the =
same qualities. To help the bass player to maintain his clarinet playing =
on a high level, I, being the E-flat player, usually play the bass in =
not so "heavy" productions. The principal likes to play E-flat so =
occasionally he is doing that, as well as the co-principal sometimes =
plays second to give me a week off to practice. This creates a very nice =
atmosphere and nobody feels locked up in a role.
Back to how to find the 2nd/bass-cl. player.

Ben wrote:
> The committee needs to decide whether the clarinet or bass clarinet it =
more
> important. =20

This is not the situation in our orchestra. They are simply equally =
important. I believe that it's easier to find a good orchestra bass-cl. =
player among good clarinetists than the other way around. That's why we =
had the clarinet audition first, with a few excerpts on bass. In the =
second round we found four decent-to-good bass players as well, who also =
showed that they still were good clarinet players in the excerpts on =
clarinet. These are the four who are going to be on trial the next =
season. If we hadn't found anyone who came close to our demands, we =
would simply have waited and called for a new audition. This can still =
be the case.

More opinions?

Alf

----- Original Message -----=20
From: Benjamin Maas <benmaas@-----.com>
Subject: RE: [kl] Bass-clarinet audition

>=20
>=20
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tony Pay [mailto:Tony@-----.uk]
> >
> > There was a discussion of how to fill the first clarinet job. But
> > 2nd/bass is another thing.
> >
> > Anyone?
> >
>=20
> The committee needs to decide whether the clarinet or bass clarinet it =
more
> important. I have taken a few bass auditions and in every one, =
clarinet has
> been asked first. I am a pretty good bass player and a decent =
clarinetist,
> but my bass chops are by far better.
>=20
> It is important to have a bass player that is good at clarinet, but I =
think
> the importance of this depends on their duties in the orchestra. If =
they
> regularly play clarinet as a second player and move down to bass a =
couple
> times per season, then a standard clarinet audition with bass in a =
later
> round should be appropriate. However, if it is a straight bass =
clarinet
> chair (no clarinet unless you are playing a part like Mahler 1), I =
would
> have the musician play bass for the whole audition and bring in the =
clarinet
> towards the final round.
>=20
> With bass clarinet, you have questions about a solo... What should =
the
> person play? Most auditions tend to ignore this and have you play =
Mozart on
> clarinet. Perhaps a transcription of a Bach Cello Suite movement....
> Ideas?
>=20
> --Ben
>=20
> Benjamin Maas
> Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
> Los Angeles, CA
> benmaas@-----.com
> http://www.fifthcircle.com
>=20
>=20
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>=20
>=20

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