 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amy_M
Date: 2012-08-11 19:05
Hey guys!
So my senior recital isn't for a while still, but I really like to plan things out. I am looking at several different pieces for the program, and I am having problems deciding between a few different options. The recital itself can be anywhere from 30 min to 1 hour. I am definitely leaning more towards the whole hour (many of the pieces I want to play are longer).
So here are all the pieces I am considering so far (not necessarily in any order):
*) Brahms Clarinet Quintet, 1st movement
(Since there are string players for this one I would like this piece to be near the beginning of the recital so that the other players don't have to sit backstage for the whole thing)
*) Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 1
*) Stravinsky Three Pieces
Here are the other pieces which I am really trying to decide between:
*) Mozart Clarinet Concerto (Just one movement possibly)
*)Either Poulenc or Debussy
*)Possibly another 20th century piece (Copland-esque)
So basically I have a ton of pieces I really want to play and not enough time to play them all... Any advice would be greatly appreciated (feel free to add in any pieces which you think I might like but that I haven't thought of)
The only pieces that I am really set on are the Brahms Quintet and the Weber Concerto No. 1, but even those can be up for change if something better is suggested.
Thanks so much everyone!
Post Edited (2012-08-11 19:15)
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Author: jvanullen
Date: 2012-08-11 21:49
Nice standard rep choices! I really like the idea of the Brahms, the Stravinsky and Poulenc/Debussy. I don't know if I love Weber in that mix, but I also don't really like the idea of putting a concerto on a recital, but that's a preference.
The Copland Sonata is great if you're looking for something along those lines, or even something like Bernstein. These would be more of a departure from the style that you've been looking at, but what about something more contemporary, like the Tower Fantasy or the Ewazen Ballade?
Post Edited (2012-08-11 21:52)
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Author: bethmhil
Date: 2012-08-11 22:35
I would say Brahms, Debussy, & Weber for sure. These would give you a good variety of colors & atmospheres for your recital. If time allows, I would also recommend the Poulenc. Since you are already wanting to do a Weber concerto, I would not recommend putting another concerto on the program.
BMH
Illinois State University, BME and BM Performance
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2012-08-12 00:24
You mentioned something Copland-esque, and Joe suggested the Copland sonata.
I agree completely. I think you'll enjoy playing it, and your audience will really enjoy listening to it.
Post Edited (2012-08-12 00:25)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-08-12 01:35
Amy -
From your list of pieces, I think you're not a performance major. If that's so, your selection is fine.
I think the Brahms Quintet works as a whole or not at all. For me, the first movement ends in a way that looks forward to more, rather than wrapping everything up. Forced to choose one movement, I would play the second, which is the musical and emotional heart of the work, or perhaps the fourth, at the end of the program. (You really can't follow it with anything.) But I would play the quintet complete. How often do you get to perform this great monument with a well-rehearsed quartet?
If you want to go on to graduate work, you absolutely must include 21st century and late 20th century works on your program. You won't be taken seriously if you don't. An audition committee for a non-performance program such as music history or education will still expect you to be up on current music.
Even if you play only music from before 1960, I'd like more variety, musical and emotional. Everything on your list is dead serious. I know there's much more to you than that, and I want to hear it! Why not do an operatic theme and variations finger-wiggler like Erwin Fantasy by Meister. And follow it with Ravel's Piece en Forme de Habanera with plenty of sweaty sex, writhing obscenely like tropical snakes.
You can walk out on that stage and have the audience in the palm of your hand before you even play a note. Hit 'em between the eyes. Gimme a big multiphonic. You have it in you.
Ken Shaw
Post Edited (2012-08-12 02:10)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-08-14 04:23
If you want to do a serious recital you shouldn't do only one mov't of the Brahms Quintet, it's far to serious and great a piece to slice it up. Do the entire work and end the program with it, it's a program ender in my opionon. Don't worry about the strings sitting around they can show up late. Open your program with the Debussy or Poulenc, than the Stravinsky and then the Brahms. You can add a piece as well if it's not too long depending on the time alloted.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Amy_M
Date: 2012-08-14 17:32
Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! Any further advice/ suggestions you have are more than welcome!
jvanullen--
Thanks so much for the suggestions! I really liked the pieces you mentioned, and I think i might try the Tower Fantasy. The only problem with the Ewazen (If it is the Ballade for Clarinet, Harp, and String Orchestra) would be finding a harp player. We only had one at my school a few years ago, and I wouldn't want to spend a whole lot of money to hire one in (the piece is really beautiful though). I have a friend who just began learning the Bernstein, and I really like how it sounds too... I might try that one as well! Thanks again!
Ken--
You are right I am not a performance major. However, I do want to go on to graduate school. Since this is the case, I was wondering which 20th or 21st century pieces you might suggest I try to incorporate into my senior recital (or how I might otherwise spice it up). I also really like the pieces you suggested by Ravel and Meister. The Meister really caught my attention, and the Ravel was very pretty (it might be good if I need a shorter piece for the program). Thanks again, and any further suggestions you have are welcomed!
Ed--
You're right about the Brahms Quintet; the whole thing is really great, and I would hate to have to cut it down to just one movement. My main concern with that piece was the time commitment to play the whole thing, but the other pieces you suggested would work really well with the Brahms. I will have to talk to my teacher and see what he thinks, but I would love to play the whole piece. Thanks so much! If you have any other suggestions they are welcome!
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Author: Donald Casadonte
Date: 2012-08-14 23:49
Why not write a piece?
I wrote a murder mystery for actor and clarinetist called, Who Killed Mrs. Myheart (for corpse in Bb and clarinet). The story is told from the clarinet's point of view. The clarinet solves the murder and has to try to communicate who the killer is to its owner. The actor narrates the story and the clarinetist provides the sound-effects and the real music playing. The clarinetist is set as a noire Bogart with an Irish cop, a police lieutenant, a master violinist, and a cat making an appearance.
I also wrote a science fiction spy story set in 1945 that answers the interesting question of why the middle movement of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto is so special. It is called: Final Report Project 219. Codename Clarinet.
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