 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ray Swing
Date: 1999-04-24 15:15
You mentioned "Holst's Second Suite in F for Military Band in a previous post, so I was wondering if you also played the Holst First Suite in E flat for Military Band. If so, any pointers on how to carry the 16 th note runs starting prior to B for the 8 or 9 measures in "Part I Chaconne" without a breath? I can't do it and always try to get something in about mid way but when I do grab some air,I miss a note or two. Any sugestions other than bigger lung capacity. Thanks for any input.
Ray
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Author: snowjacks
Date: 1999-04-24 16:49
If you don't have the lung capacity to stretch it, the best place to catch a breath on the 1st clarinet part is between the 3rd and 4th measure between the B and C. The C is supposed to be tounged anyway, so a breath sounds least out of place there.
The bass clarinet part also has the 16th notes and I can't make it past 4 measures without gasping for breath. Tough part. I just stagger the gap with the other bass clarinet.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-04-24 17:46
I haven't played the 1st Suite. As snowjacks indicated though, something like this works quite well if you plan breathing spots with your stand partner. Or if there are more than two people on the 1st part, get together and plan out breathing for each member of the group.
When you skip notes for a breath, I find it easiest to skip that beat and come back in on the next beat. It's less stressful that way than trying to come in during the beat.
Composers sometimes forget we have to breath. Slow passages can be worse than fast ones. I've seen pieces marked with a slow tempo where there were tied whole notes for 8 to 12 measures. Then the clarinets have to really subtle breathing and sneaking back in and out.
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Author: Rich C
Date: 1999-04-24 17:48
I've played this once before...I don't know if it's possible to pull it off without taking a breath...the best thing to do here is staggered breath, if you have a stand partner. Basically, you and your partner both breathe, but at different times. This way, the flow is not interrupted. Good luck! 
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-04-24 18:15
Sounds like this piece is one of the few that can really benefit from circular breathing.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-04-24 18:27
Mark Charette wrote:
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Sounds like this piece is one of the few that can really benefit from circular breathing.
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Perhaps but since there is an entire group playing the notes, an individual grabbing a breath here and there isn't noticeable when planned. Now if the clarinet is playing solo that could be different.
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Author: Ray Swing
Date: 1999-04-24 18:30
Thanks to all respondents. The place I do grab some air is the end of the 4th measure between the b and c. To do this, I usually loose the b or c. since I can't use the standard method of stagger breathing since I'm the only 1st. Our band is small with only 3 B flats and 1 Bass. Director wants all 3 parts covered so I can't get help. As an aside, our Director who is excellent, is a flutist with many Pro Flutist friends, two to three of whom always join us for concerts. So when we play Stars and Stripes Forever, the audience is blown away by the superb group of Piccolos. Meanwhile during practice I'm playing the key flute cues. Lots of fun.
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Author: Contragirl
Date: 1999-04-24 18:36
Here's another suggestion....Pick up contra for a little while...Then maybe you'll be able to do it. I've never played the song, but when my contra isn't present, I practice on the soprano. As stupid as it sounds-- hey, works for me!
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-04-24 20:59
Ray Swing wrote:
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Thanks to all respondents. The place I do grab some air is the end of the 4th measure between the b and c. To do this, I usually loose the b or c. since I can't use the standard method of stagger breathing since I'm the only 1st....
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Dang! That makes it tough. Any chance of recruiting anymore clarinets?
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Author: snowjacks
Date: 1999-04-24 21:27
I understand the theory of what you're saying Mark, but I've mainly observed the circular breathing to be appropriate for long extended notes. In my humble opinion, it would take Superman to circular breath while playing those 16th notes.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-04-24 21:46
snowjacks wrote:
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I understand the theory of what you're saying Mark, but I've mainly observed the circular breathing to be appropriate for long extended notes. In my humble opinion, it would take Superman to circular breath while playing those 16th notes.
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Take a listen to Bob Spring on Dragon's Tongue. Or even my son someday :^) (He taught himself to circular breath - he calls it a "cheap circus trick" - but it has on occasion been helpful to him).
It's much better to circular breath on fast or relatively fast passages becuse of a slight "dip" in the tine during the cheek/lung changeover.
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Author: Ray Swing
Date: 1999-04-25 01:27
Dee, we continue to try and attract more musicians, but it's a small town band and we're lucky to have the 4 Clarinets we have. One thing we do have for a small Band is excellent low brass-- 2 excellent big Tubas, 2 Baritones, 2-3Bones, 3 French Horns, 3 Trumpets, 2 Tenor Saxes, 1 Alto (I double on Alto for any key solo if he doesn't show) and 1 Drummer. One French Horn doubles on Trumpet or Drums if necessary and as I previously mentioned we get 2 to 3 pro Flutes as required for concerts. Lots of fun. What's your Band composition?
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-04-25 02:34
Well, I play in the Sioux Falls Community Band. We have at least 15 clarinets, probably about that many flutes, a bass clarinet, a basson, an oboe, some alto & tenor saxes (maybe three each), perhaps 3 or 4 trombones, only about 5 or 6 trumpets (amazing), about 3 French Horns, maybe 3 or 4 percussion, at least one low brass. We are short on low brass actually.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-04-25 03:00
Too bad you can't trade musicians like you can ballplayers.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-04-25 14:13
Our Tulsa Community Band has some 50-70 musicians, at times almost too many for the pp passages. Our reeds are quite well in balance with the brass, generally I am the only bass cl, with an alto cl beside me. We play contemporary and some classical arrangements under pro conductors. On another topic, if you have the opportunity to hear the free Salvation Army [British] Int. Staff Band [all brass and percussion], do so, its superb musicianship, sounds just like an organ when at p or pp. Believe the remainder of their US tour is Pasadena Ca. They gave us a great concert, right here in small town OKLA [River City!] .
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Author: Contragirl
Date: 1999-04-25 14:31
Rick2 wrote:
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Too bad you can't trade musicians like you can ballplayers.
Yeah, let's trade the trumpets...Sorry, somebody HAD to say it...
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 1999-04-26 13:41
This doesn't answer your question, but Frederick Fennell and the the Cleveland Wind Symphony have a CD that has both of Holst's First and Second Suites on it. It's fun to play along.
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