 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: claribari
Date: 2008-12-14 21:09
Hello, I was wondering if anyone knew of any good Eb clarinet solos that weren't too difficult but not too easy (think tenth grade high school) and perhaps had good changes in style within the solo?
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2008-12-14 23:07
Do you mean solo pieces or orchestra solos?
If you mean orchestra solos the Eb solo in Ravel's Bolero comes to mind. It's not technically difficult but has to be shaped nicely.
From Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring": The solo with bass clarinet.
There aren't that many solo pieces worth any attention for Eb-clarinet. What about Vivaldi's piccolo concerto 2nd movement with the accompaniment transposed into g-minor.
Alphie
Post Edited (2008-12-14 23:09)
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2008-12-14 23:12
I've seen the Weber Concertino for clarinet performed on the eefer rather than Bb before.
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-12-14 23:21
Johann Melchior Molter (18th century composer) wrote six concertos for D clarinet (similar sound to Eb clarinet). I have no idea how easy or difficult they are, though--probably hard if played in the original (concert pitch) key, I imagine. They might be worth investigating, however, since they were actually written for something that sounds like an eefer.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2008-12-14 23:33
I wouldn't recomend the Molter Concertos simply because these concerti are very technical which require a good control in the altisimo register. The Eb sounds nothing like a D clarinet, imo. The D clarinet has a much more of a smoother sound and is not as penertrating as the Eb.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-12-14 23:58
The Molter concertos are nice music but aren't simple, mostly because they have lots of high notes and it can sound very shrieky if it's not played just right and exactly in tune. I belive Jeanne has made a version of #3 for clarinet choir with the Eb playing the concerto part. The other clarinet parts don't look too difficult.
Besides the Weber Concertino mentioned above the Adagio from the Mozart Concerto has been transposed (or more correctly the piano part has been) for the Eb. It sounds quite good although Mozart might not agree! I've used it in alto and it is very nice. Similar to what his idea for the basset horn concerto he started?
Easley Blackwood's "Sonatina for E-flat Clarinet and Piano" is in a nice range and a pleasant-sounding piece. This has been recorded by John Bruce Yeh. the rhythms are straight forward. My only complaint is that there aren't a lot of rests for catching your breath. There is a Garlick piece "Sonata for Eb clarinet and piano" that is in a similar range but it's not as pretty a piece IMHO.
The two sonatas by Alfred Prinz are a little more advanced and have some neat little licks from symphonic pieces that feature the Eefer. Another two I like a lot are the 'Aires Sicilianos' by Casas and Panizza's 'Ballabile con Variazoni'. They are both pretty pieces but tough. Both have nice variations in tempo and style and use thwe whole range of the instrument.
Hope that's some help!
Eefer guy
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-12-15 00:13
Since you are in New York, it would be a good idea to look at the NYSSMA manual for Eb clarinet solos on the Grade 4 ,5 or 6 level.
Speaking from experience as both a teacher and NYSSMA judge, these are a few of the Eb solos in the manual which are most frequently chosen by students and their teachers:
Level Four
Gabucci/Voxman - Aria and Scherzo
Marcello/Voxman - Andante & Allegro
Level Five
Bach/Caravan - Bach for the Clarinet (Any 1 group)
#18, 28, 32
#21, 23, 24
#22, 29, 34
#3, 20, 30
#8, 27, 30
Bernstein -Sonata (Mvt 2)
Osborne -Rhapsody
Level Six
Bach/Caravan - Bach for the Clarinet (Any 1 group)
#13, 16, 39
#14, 15, 33
#2, 10, 35
#40, 41, 42
#5, 11, 37
Rozsa -Sonata. Op41
Stravinsky - 3 Pieces
Weber - Concertino
There are others listed in the NYSSMA manual, so if you need additional selections, it is best to check there ...GBK
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Author: Lynn
Date: 2008-12-15 14:49
John Cage's 4'33" comes immediately to mind!
Lynn
Austin, TX
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Author: claribari
Date: 2008-12-15 21:51
Thanks, you all have been very helpful. I'm actually getting ready for my high school solo contest. I'm doing a solo on my Bb Clarinet, my Bari Sax, and my eefer. My instructor is picking my Bb and Bari solos but asked if I could look around for some eefer solos as we have about seventy different solos/small ensembles he is finding music for.
Ryder, I have actually been playing the Weber on my eefer for a little while (not for solos, just to practice my fingerings on the Albert System) and while I love that solo to death, I think I might actually kill myself if I have to play it again. I played it for solos on the Bb two years ago (just the 1st part), then the next year I started taking private lessons and when he heard I had the solo he decided I was going to play it again only this time I would play the whole thing. Beautiful song, but I would kill myself for sure. Nice recommendation though. ^.^
Thanks for the help everyone!
Post Edited (2008-12-15 21:51)
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Author: claaaaaarinet!!!!
Date: 2008-12-16 19:17
William Bolcom's "Little Suite of Four Dances" is a nice piece that is a bonafide Eb clarinet solo with piano:
http://www.halleonard.com/item_detail.jsp?itemid=220058&order=1&catcode=00&refer=search&type=product&keywords=bolcom+suite+
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-12-17 01:28
Good suggestion on the Bolcom. It is a pretty piece. The movement that sounds like "SAutumn Leraves" is especially cool. Add some vibrato when you do it though.
Eefer guy
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Author: smoreno
Date: 2008-12-17 02:09
haha. I've played the Stravinsky on the eefer before. i consider the e-flat my true auxiliary, and it was actually very easy to translate playing on the e-flat.
My friend has perfect pitch though, and she could not reconcile hearing it played on the e-flat! lol
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Author: claribari
Date: 2008-12-19 01:29
The Bolcom piece sounds intriguing, I believe I shall have to check that one out. ^.^
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Author: claribari
Date: 2009-01-26 21:54
It's been a long time since anyone has posted here but I just wanted to say thanks again for the suggestions and I have ordered both the William Bolcom and the Marcello-Voxman.
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