 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Summer22L
Date: 2004-05-19 09:10
Hi everyone! I'm entering my college's concerto competition next year...I'll be a senior, so this is my last chance! I want to go ahead and decide on a piece now, so that I can spend the summer working on it (the competiton is in November, and it is really, really competitive). This is where all of you come in...I can't make up my mind =)
I considered the Nielsen, but I think that may be a little TOO intense. And I've already decided against Mozart and all the Spohr concertos. The Debussy Rhapsody is gorgeous, but i was thinking something a little "flashier"? Another clarinetist is competing on the Copland, so I'm going to stay away from that too.
So...here's my narrowed-down list. Any suggestions? Not in terms of which piece you like best, etc, but in terms of which piece you think would most likely win a concerto competition, whatever that means.
--Rossini Intro, Theme, & Variations
--Weber (i would do the 2nd concerto)
--Crusell (which one...?)
--Finzi
--(Debussy Rhapsody)
--other ideas? (nothing too obscure...i want to make sure the orchestra parts are readily available)
(There are no constraints on length or type of piece.)
Thanks for your help! =)
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-05-19 10:25
Hi Summer22L!
Although, The Finzi´s concerto is a lovely piece, It isn´t very demanding technically, so it would not be easy to convince the critics. You should consider Francaix theme and variations. It is a mysterical piece that will hook up audience and critics attention. On top of that, it´s a very demanding piece technically. The weber´s 2nd is a great piece also...
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Author: Summer22L
Date: 2004-05-19 10:38
thanks for the advice! did you mean the Francaix Concerto? Because the point of the competition is to win a chance to perform the piece with the orchestra, and isn't the theme & variations just for clarinet and piano? I'll def. check out the Francaix concerto.
I do love Weber's 2nd, but I kinda like the idea of working up something that i haven't already played to death =)
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2004-05-19 10:45
How about the Strauss concerto for clarinet and bassoon?
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-05-19 14:40
How about the Hindemith Clarinet Concerto?? Wonderful music, technically challenging and a chance to use your A clarinet.
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Author: Summer22L
Date: 2004-05-19 15:25
ok, but if you had to pick one of the pieces I mentioned, which would you pick? I'd rather play on my Bflat, and I can't do a double concerto, seeing as I'll be away from campus this summer and can't work with anyone else from my school.
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2004-05-19 18:22
Unless your school orchestra is incredible, I'd avoid the Francaix Concerto. The orchestra stuff is really hard (not necessarily a reason to avoid it, but if the orchestra can't play it well enough, what's the point of performing it?)
Some pieces to think about
-Crusell 1
-Tomasi
-Milhaud (this probably isn't the best piece for a competition, but it's really cool)
-Malcolm Arnold No. 2 (it's really fun and you get to write your own cadenza - highly recommended and way under played!)
-Lutoslawksi, Dance Preludes (not a concerto, but neither of Debussy Rhapsody. Sounds wonderful with orchestra).
One other thing to consider... you might check the availability of orchestral parts on some of the more obscure pieces. I know that sometimes the parts are hard to get ahold or expensive to rent. Might make you more attractive if your solo has easily obtained parts... Just something to think about.
DH
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-05-19 22:22
I agree with the Hindemith suggestion ... a wondful and sadly neglected work.
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Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2004-05-19 23:51
I didn't read the replies... if you want flashy try Riggoletto its an opera arrangement for clarinet and orchestra or piano.. sabine meyer has a recording of it.
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-05-20 08:46
If you want to play an entertaining piece, Copland is a good option. However, It´s very difficult, also. You have to know how to do glissando. The orchestra´s assembly isn´t the most ordinary, either.
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Author: Summer22L
Date: 2004-05-21 04:40
Thanks for the advice, everyone! I've narrowed my choices down to the Rossini variations, the Debussy rhapsody, and Weber's 2nd...now i'm just trying to decide which would be the most fun to play with a full orchestra! if i win that is... =D
Any opinions on debussy vs. rossini vs. weber 2?
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Author: charlesmunden
Date: 2004-05-22 03:49
I am doing Debussy for a competition in the fall. I thikn it is an amazing piece, and I would highly recommend it. I did the Weber 2 last semester for a big concerto competition, and although it is an amzing piece with virtuostic qualities, I believe that it is not the best competition piece. Dont get me wrong it is an amazing piece and I loved working on it and really digging into it, but I think it just lacks some of the detail and contrast that some other pieces offer to really show in-depth musicianship. The Debussy I chose to work on now because it has so many small nuances and minute dynamic and rhythmic details to really bring out and show your detail, that and it will give the orchestra something fun to play, because it isnt an overly difficult part, but it interacts with the solo part enough to make it not boring. Just my 2 cents.
Charles Munden
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