Klarinet Archive - Posting 000321.txt from 2002/01

From: Alexander Brash <mactrek@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Mozart in the Band
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 13:40:02 -0500

Well last year a soloist did indeed play the Mozart Concerto with a
community band I work with,
We played it in Bb and not in A. The soloist played it on his Bb
clarinet.
I have happened to seen another band transcription that maintains the
"correct" key, A Major. The solo clarinet part is for Clarinet in A, and the
1st second and 3rd clarinet parts are ALSO for clarinet in A. The trumpets
and other Bb instruments have to suck it and deal with 5 sharps. (not that
there are much brass parts in this transcription). Anyway, I can assure you
that this transcription sounded simply horrible. Most bands, especially
amateur ones, do not do well in the key of A major. I can also assure you
that this transcription has never been performed to my knowledge, nor is it
likely to be...
Usually when there is a clarinet soloist with a band, entire concertos
are not performed. They pick a quick showpiece (the mozart 3rd movement or
the Weber Pollaca), that the audience will like, adn then CUT it to be about
3 minutes long. When I played the Cavallini Adagio and Tarantella with the
US Army Band this Fall, I had to learn a completely new edition of the music
because they had cut out two entire sections in the transcription; I had
learned the "original" clarinet and piano edition.
I think that's it from me for this weekend. I have a big concert
tonight, and am performing the Copland concerto with orchestra for the first
time (wish me luck!). NO doubt tomorrow will be spent catching up on
schoolwork. I've been enjoying the recent posts a great deal, and look
forward to more.

Alexander Brash
Stuyvesant High School, NYC (yes, two blocks from ground zero)
Principal Clarinet, school band and orchestra
1st clarinet, Kingsborough Community College Band
Principal Clarinet, All State Band '00 All state Orchestra '01
1st clarinet, All Eastern Band '01

---------------------------------------------------------------------

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org