Klarinet Archive - Posting 000239.txt from 2003/06

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Begin the Beguine
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 17:32:26 -0400

At 04:50 PM 6/9/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>My question is: what key?
>
>The original is written in Concert C, but Artie plays it in something else
>on his recording.I think he drops it down a notch or two.
>
>It's a totally fun piece to memorize. I don't believe there is one phrase or
>measure that is repeated exactly. The greatest challenge is trying to mimic
>the Artie Shaw sound, which is what gave his version such incredible life.

The arrangement we play in the Baytones big band, which is supposed to be
the Jerry Gray original, has the clarinet part in written key of D, so
concert C sounds right. It ends on that long altissimo D after the
gliss. The clarinet part is written into the second alto sax part. I
normally play 1st alto, but play second for that one so I get to do the
clarinet part.

Begin the Beguine is a very unusual song in that the verses do NOT repeat
at all, not just in the arrangement, but in the original composition. It
is the main reason it was tossed off on the "B" side of the record. But,
as often happens, people discover the B side and turn it into a hit
anyway. Shows what the record companies know about music and taste.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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