Klarinet Archive - Posting 000422.txt from 2005/01

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Tempo of Schostakovitch's "Festive Overture", band arrangement
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 23:19:28 -0500

Annie,

One, 152 (I only checked with a metronome to see what that sounded like - I
don't have a score to see what Shostakovich asked for) seems just about
right for a half note in this piece. I've played it in both the orchestra
and band versions (different keys), and it seems pretty much the speed that
I've played it.

Two, if he's the band's regular conductor he probably knows what he can and
can't get them to do as well as anyone. He must think enough of the players
can get enough of the notes to make the passagework sound right. It may be
(probably will be) that no one in the woodwind sections will get every note
in the piece.

Three (related to two), in my opinion, your student should learn the part
the best she can up to her tempo limit. Chances are if enough of the other
students can't play it at 152 it will eventually slow down to something the
majority can handle despite the conductor's best efforts.

There's no point second-guessing the conductor about his tempo. He's the one
with the stick in his hand, and he probably doesn't give two hoots how fast
anyone else likes it, but he will slow down if the band can't keep up,
because there's not much point in conducting faster than the band is
playing.

My 2-cents

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Anne Lenoir [mailto:AnneLenoir@-----.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 9:51 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Cc: paulaclar@-----.us
> Subject: [kl] Tempo of Schostakovitch's "Festive Overture", band
> arrangement
>
>
> The nationally renown Cheyenne Mtn. HS Band under Jack Yonce will be
> performing "Festive Overture" this Friday morning, showcasing for the
> Colorado Music Educators Association. I have one clarinet student in
> this exceptional band, and she cannot play her part up to tempo. The
> band director is playing it at a half-note equals 152. I spent a couple
> of hours with my student last night "practicing" with her, with the
> metronome. We only got up to about 132, and it was a wee bit sloppy. I
> talked to the band director this morning and asked him if he wanted me
> to keep working with her until we got it smoothly up to 152, and he said
> "No, just have her work it up playing every other note. It's way too
> late to be getting it up to tempo". I thought to myself that it would be
> easier to work it up to tempo by Friday than to try to play every other
> note.
> What is a good tempo for this band arrangement anyhow? It seems like
> 138 would be more than fast enough. What's the rush? I can't imagine
> rewriting the part with every other note. ANNIE
>
>
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