 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2000-02-14 19:12
After playing the Bernstein Sonata this year, I do not know what I should play next year. I want something difficult, but not something that is so hard I will get sick of playing it. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Jeff
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Author: andrea
Date: 2000-02-14 21:44
poulenc? it's fun and one of my favorite light sonatas. or a brahms. you should play the brahms anyway, though.
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Author: col
Date: 2000-02-15 08:18
if i were you i would start with the second one first. i think it is slightly easier to capture the emotion and passion than the first. Technically they are both much of a muchness. Try and do both one after another if possible and read a little on brahms life and influences this will really help you to bring out the most in the music.
just another thought to you could try the solo de concours by Messager, its is a great piece and very showy, but has some beautiful lines and a tricky cadenza.
Good Luck
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Author: col
Date: 2000-02-15 08:20
sorry i forgot to mention this in the last post but whatever you do don't pick a piece and set it up as a definate for the competition you need it for a year is to long a time to prepare a piece ( unless it is very technically challanging ) as you will go stale for sure
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Author: Jeffrey Boehmer
Date: 2000-02-15 13:37
I don't think that I would play a Brahms this early if the competition is for High School. I would stick with the Poulenc or a Weber piece. I know that one of the pet peeves of a good judge is hearing a Brahms Sonata massacred by a clarinetist. I would play it safe and stick with something else.
Jeff
WVU
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Author: Becky
Date: 2000-02-15 21:01
I agree with Col about the Messager Solo de Concours. I played it last year at a festival and am doing it again this year at my recital "just for the fun of it." It's definitely a challenge, but is a beautiful piece when it's mastered.
Becky
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2000-02-15 21:31
I have seen the Messager, but it looks really hard. I was thinking of maybe Concertino by Weber. The only problem is, I have gotten used to a contemporary piece after playing the Bernstein!
Jeff
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-02-15 23:55
Looks can be deceiving. After being in college for a year, I have learned this very well. What looks to be very difficult is now not so hard as a year ago. In the summer, you will be much better than you are now and you will be able to handle certain passages in music.
However, the easier the piece, and the better prepared it sounds the more pleasing it will be to you and the judges listening to you. I would recommend Weber's 1st Concerto, the Saint-Saens Sonata, or the Grand Duo Concertante by Weber. The Grand Duo is a really fun piece! The third movement is great!
Good luck in your decision!
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2000-02-16 01:47
I would do the Grand Duo, but its not on the list.
Jeff
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Author: Keil
Date: 2000-02-16 02:06
After having done something contemporary i think that something more traditional would be an excellent way to go. Personally though i love the Spohr Concerto #2 however there are some licks in there that take some time to work through, also Weber Concertino and Grand Duo are awesome, as a matter of fact i'm debating between these two for solo and ensemble. I just got done working on the Mozart UGh, and the Osborne Rhapsody which, by the way, is beautiful, and i'm ready for some fun. I was considering the Introduction, Theme, and Variations by Rossini but i've opted against it, maybe another time!!N-e-wayzzz i'm thinking that Weber will be good, hey, i know, look at Polaca, i think its in the 3rd mvt. of Weber's #2!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-02-16 02:38
Kim wrote:
-------------------------------
Looks can be deceiving. After being in college for a year, I have learned this very well. What looks to be very difficult is now not so hard as a year ago.
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And what's easy now will become more difficult in a few years. Technical mastery is one thing; musical mastery is another. They don't come at the same rate.
Re: The Spohr concerti. Remember he is famous for violin concerti more than clarinet. Read his clarinet concerti with that in mind. According to Jim Pyne, the Spohr rank as some of the most difficult of the rep. for clarinet ...
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-02-16 02:46
Keil,
Listen to Charlie Neidich play #2. The tempo is breathtaking <b>and</b> it still sounds good (not strained).
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Author: Bino
Date: 2000-02-16 04:36
If you liked the Bernstein Sonata try out the Hindemith Sonata...or if you are really up to it Three Pieces for Clarinet by Stravinsky...just some suggestions..
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Author: Jake Wallace
Date: 2000-02-17 02:45
You might try the Wilson Osborne Rhapsody as well. (It's been mentioned a few times lately on the board) I picked it up on the suggestion of my teacher from a required music list on an audition, and I really like it. I've been working on it for about 6 weeks and have it to a point where I'm close to where I'd like to have it (of course, I can still spend time improving it after that). Not TOO difficult, IMO, but a very good player can bring a lot of stuff to it that isn't mentioned as much on the paper...
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Author: Mike
Date: 2000-02-17 15:41
Completely off the wall suggestion from a fan of swing music: Artie Shaw wrote a Clarinet Concerto. Obviously it is not part of the standard clarinet repertoire and is therefore quite risky for a competition piece (if your instructor says 'no', follow his/her advise!). But - it is a challenging piece which draws upon several musical traditions (blues a la Gershwin, klezmer, 40's swing). It is so refreshing to hear and it has some pretty dramatic moments: about a 4 measure/2 octave gliss and I believe it ends on C above High C. A young woman I know won her competition playing this with piano and drum accompaniment. Its a departure and who knows how a judge would react.
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-02-18 22:50
I was speaking of band music. My solos have been easy as far as technique and difficult with rhythm. However, I have to focus on the style of the music which is difficult. The band music can look hard(not Grade 6's-they are hard!), but five's can have some difficulty or a lot, but are easy to get through. Sometimes when we are sightreading we make a piece harder than it really is.
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Author: Jake Wallace
Date: 2000-02-20 04:02
The Artie Shaw concerto is pretty wicked. Especially for a high school student. (I am a high school student, have a copy of it, but don't think I'll be cranking it out anytime soon...) If you had a year to work on it, though, it would be possible I'm sure. But from recordings of it I've heard, it involves a lot of stuff much different from standard clarinet playing in terms of slurring, tone, etc.
Jake Wallace
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