The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2000-12-20 01:39
they havent told us what our musical this year is going to be.. all we've found out from our band director is that the clarinet part is really cool, and its hard. What musicals have really hard clarinet parts? Fiddler is the only one we can think of, other than the Music Man (its not the music man because they did it about 5 years ago). The Reed 4 part is also Bass Clarinet/Bb clarinet - my part. I dont know a lot of musicals, but what are your thoughts on what it could be? thanx
-ashley-
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Author: Gene Wie
Date: 2000-12-20 01:56
"Crazy For You" has a pretty nutty reed book...it's just big tune after big tune after big tune.
Pirates of Penzance is always fun, as is anything involving Arthur Sullivan. =)
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2000-12-20 02:10
As much as I would LOVE to do Crazy for You, it's not gonna happen :( (Unfortunately, i love love LOVE Gershwin, I Got Rhythm is like my favorite song ever) The cast is absolutely HUGE and theres no way we would have enough people. We have very few guys that go out for musical too, so i they wouldnt pick something that had a lot of guy parts. I guess we also know that the chorus isn't very big. I dont think its Pirates of Penzance, the community college here did that about 6? years ago. I'm at my wits end trying to figure out what it is... but we find out tomorrow though but i want to know NOW!! (I'm still thinking Fiddler....)
-ashley-
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-12-20 04:28
1930s musical "Swing Time" by Jerome Kern has some nice clarinet leads in it.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-12-20 10:04
I've played in 156 productions and I'd say MANY of them have difficult wind parts, especially when you are expected to play 4 or 5 instruments as well. G&S is demanding for clean fast tonguing but others are rhymically fiendish or spend a lot of time whizzing around the top register. There are often very nasty bits around the break with fingerings that fingers seem programmed not ot do. Sometimes the most difficult parts to play well are when you have exposed pp crotchets and minims for ten minutes without a break. That is killing on the lip and breath support systems. It's even worse to play flute straight after!
The fun in show playing is overcoming the many challenges, blending, providing emotional support to the songs, and having so many chances to improve the next night.
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Author: Julia
Date: 2000-12-20 17:34
I agree with Robin----West Side Story is incredible for all the winds. The reed parts are crazy; there are as many as 6 instruments for one part.
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2000-12-20 18:50
I was right, i was right... its Fiddler. It should be awesome.. we dont have the music yet so I cant practice over christmas break, but oh well. Now if only we had a tenor that could play Tevia (I think thats the name, the big fat tenor guy). Our guy that does all the lead male roles is, well, he wrestles at 119. And his voice isn't mature at all.... It will be verrrry verrrrry intersting.......
-ashley-
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Author: Robin
Date: 2000-12-21 02:52
There's a great long clarinet solo. You're going to love it. I've actually plyed one of the characters...Motel the tailor. I hope you enjoy Fiddler as much as I did.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-12-21 14:16
That 'bottle dance' clarinet solo in Fiddler must be one of the finest pieces of writing for clarinet. It has so much style, and shows of the high notes, making the clarinet 'personify' strength and determination.
Lucky you. Enjoy!
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2000-12-21 20:57
unfortunately I dont get to play the clarinet solo there :( theres another girl thats playing the clarinet part (she's a lot better on soprano than i am anyway, i pretty much just started, i've been playing bass for so long), so she gets all the solos. I'm playing the bass clarinet/Bb clarinet part.. so wherever theres 2 clarinets that'll be me
-ashley-
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-12-23 09:08
I hope she plays it well then for you to enjoy and become inspired.
The first time I played in this show (on flute) the clarinetist played awesomely. I glances across at her clarinet, thinking it must be a fantastic make. It was a Boosey & Hawkes Regent. That was regarded as about the worst clarinet you could buy in those days.
I never forgot that. It is the player who makes a clarinet sing. A top clarinet just makes it easier for the player to make it sing.
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