Klarinet Archive - Posting 000132.txt from 2007/01
From: "Angelia Fagg" <arfagg@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Performance Practice for Schumann (also Weber and Mendellsohn)
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2007 06:28:22 -0500
Hi everyone!!!
OK, so I survived the Christmas music marathon (and took two weeks off to
recover!!!!!) and now I'm back to my regular music. I was wondering if
anyone could help me out with some perfomance practice questions. I tried
Googling Robert Schumann, but that got 2,010,000 results!!!! Chamber music
narrowed it down to 759,000, and performance practice to 102,000, the first
page of which was all festival and CD advertisements. After that, I got
disgusted and gave up--I'd much rather play than do internet searches, so if
anyone knows of a good site that might give me the info I need, please let
me know.
Robert Schumann Fantasiestuke op. 73
First, thanks to everyone who sent solutions to my earlier fingering
problem. It worked the first time I tried it, and I just needed to work on
smoothing it out a little. Needed it in some of my Christmas music, too, so
I was glad I went ahead and asked when I did. (Still don't know why I
didn't figure it out for myself--I must be out of practice at studying!!!!)
Now for the questions:
1. Tempo--the version I have (Schirmer--Masterworks for Clarinet, edited by
Eric Simon) has mm=80 for the first movement, 138 for the second, and 160
for the third. Is this Schumann's recommended speed, or an editor addition?
2. Attaca--the first and second movements both indicate that they should go
into the next without a pause. The only recording I've found is from
Classical Archives (GREAT site!!!!), so I get it in three seperate tracks,
and can't tell if it's done all in one. Does anyone play it as one long
piece? Why or why not? Again, Schumann or editor?
Carl Maria von Weber Variations for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 33
1. Tempo--this one (in the same book) doesn't have any mm marking (which
is why I'm thinking the Schumann might be right). Any recommendations?
2. Var. 1--WHERE DO I BREATH IN THIS THING?????????? Simon recommends at
the end of measure four, but to my ear, that chops the thing in pieces, and
every other place I've tried has the same effect. The only solution I've
found is to cut the last triplet in measure five short, but I don't really
like that either. Help!
3. Var. 3 (For those who don't know the piece, Var. 2 is a piano solo,
probably to keep the clarinetist from passing out!) The introduction in the
score says that they went back to Weber's original manuscript for this one
and took out all the extras that Bahrman added in his performances. I've
seen another edition, which says that many people play the original first,
and Bahrman's version on the repeats. Frankly, I like the original best
(Bahrman's seems TOO ornamented!), but I'm wondering what other people think
of it.
4. Tempo, again--Var. 3 says Poco adagio, which I interperet as a little
slower. The question is, how much slower? If I do it at a tempo to make
the nine-note runs smoothly, the rest of it sounds kind of dirge-like.
Anyone know of an exercise to even out my ninths (ninelets?? nonets??
ninetuplets?? whatever!)? I do fairly well with even divisions of the beat,
but that odd one is really messing me up!!!
I'll probably have questions on the other variations later, but this is as
far as I've worked so far!
Felix Mendelssohn (looked it up this time!) Sonata for clarinet and piano
Is this piece as dull as I think it is? The second movement is gorgeous,
but one and three sound like intermediate etudes. Am I missing something
here????
1. There's a cadenza in measure 30 of the first movement. Is Mendelssohn
one of the composers who wrote cadenzas out, or is this an addition? If it
is an addition, should I play it, or make something else up (I don't really
like it)?
2. The Schirmier edition recommends several cuts in the first movement. Is
there a reason for this? The piano is playing basically scales and the
clarinet has almost nothing to do. (I think I just anwered my own
question!!!)
I think that's about it for now. I'm sorry if these are obvious questions.
I hurt my arm the semester BEFORE Symphonic Lit and Music History!!!!! I
promise from now on, I'll ask questions as I come to them and not save them
all up to send at once!
Thanks,
Angelia
P.S. While I'm asking questions, anyone know of an alternate fingering for
the throat B flat- C trill? The top two trill keys sounds pretty good on my
clarinet, but I have very short fingers, and it's hard for me to reach. I
generally end up with my thumb sliding out from under the rest and the
instrument rocking around in my mouth. Any suggestions?
Get FREE Web site and company branded e-mail from Microsoft Office Live
http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/mcrssaub0050001411mrt/direct/01/
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
