Klarinet Archive - Posting 000404.txt from 2001/09

From: "Don Yungkurth" <clarinet@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Really tough orchestral pieces
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 09:53:14 -0400

Walter Grabner wrote, in reply to the following question:

<<A question to the professional clarinetists (and other musicians) out
there: Are there any orchestral works that are so difficult that even
professional
orchestras have real problems playing them?>>

>Yup! There are pieces that make even the big guys (and gals) sweat. Where
do we start? Ever sit down and try to play every last note of "Sorcer's
Apprentice"?,<

One of my community orchestras played "Sorcerer's Apprentice", so I know of
what Walter speaks. At the time I was taking lessons from a clarinetist in
a well-regarded regional professional orchestra. I asked him about the
clarinet parts in "Sorcerer's Apprentice" and said that, over the years,
they (the section clarinetists) had tried a variety of things, including
alternating measures, since the 1st and 2nd play in unison, without success.

More recently, I was at a concert by this orchestra when "Sorcerer's
Apprentice" was played. The principal clarinetist, a well known teacher,
had a prominent solo in another work. I spoke with him after the concert
and complimented him on his solo. I then asked, if he really played all the
notes in "Sorcerer's Apprentice". He broke up laughing and then gave me a
straight answer, that he tried to play notes in the appropriate chord!

Don Yungkurth (clarinet@-----.net)

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