Klarinet Archive - Posting 000099.txt from 2005/06

From: Bear Woodson <bearwoodson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Re: Marc Tree (was Clarinet Concerto progress)
Date: Sat, 04 Jun 2005 02:41:44 -0400

> Date: Fri, 03 Jun 2005 10:59:37 -0700
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> From: Tim Roberts <timr@-----.com>
> Subject: Re: Clarinet Concerto progress
> Message-ID: <42A09A89.6010504@-----.com>
>
> > On Thu, 02 Jun 2005 14:41:37 -0700, Bear
> > Woodson <bearwoodson@-----.net> wrote:
> > (A "Marc Tree" is a "set of hanging metal
> > tubes, each being a little longer than the next".
> > They hang side-by-side, for a total of 20 to 40,
> > or more of them. The percussionist moves his
> > hand across them, to yield a quiet 'magical'
> > zing, and they are now common to Rock
> > Bands, TV and Film Scores. In fact I hear
> > them in some TV commercials. It should add
> > to the tenderness of the Second Lullaby for
> > the Clarinet and Harp.)
> >
> In the band world, at least, this instrument is
> referred to as "wind chimes".
> --
> Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
> Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

In University and Professional Classical
Symphonic Standards, the term "Wind Chimes"
is simply too vague. You could get ANY kind of
"Wind Chimes", made of glass, pottery, sea shells,
plastic, bamboo or whatever. In the last 10 years
I've been getting a lot of Percussion Advice from
SIX different University Professors of Percussion
at 2 universities, and each holds a Doctorate in
Percussion.

For 30 years I've been so exacting about my
music, that I even mark the Bowings for the
String Players into my scores! Based on what
I've learned from some wonderful percussionists,
I've been marking the exact Kinds of Mallets, and
changes to which next Percussion Instrument in
my scores for the last 15 years. (For tricky
passages, I always get experts to check my
String, Percussion, Harp, or whatever instrument
part, and then give them Credit as an Editor of
the Score.) So far, when other percussionists see
my scores to play them, they're just as surprised
and pleased as the string players are!

Plus I also get more Percussion Advice from
2 relatively recent orchestration books, also by
Doctoral Professors.

During the 20th Century, Percussion
Instruments, Equipment and Playing Techniques
have made amazing progress! It's the job of
university-educated composers to try to keep up
with their standards. The best way that I know
to do that, is to stay in contact with the university-
trained players, (which I do for all other
instruments, also).

I think I'll stick with the more precise,
professional level advice, and leave the vague,
less-exacting standards to high school kids,
thank you.

Bear Woodson
Composer in Tucson, Arizona, USA

Home: 520 - 881 - 2558
"Bear Woodson" <bearwoodson@-----.net>

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