The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-07-14 15:14
This morning on my drive into work I was listening to a cassette (remember those, kids?) of Vaughan Williams' 6th Symphony, which has some very tasty licks for alto sax and for bass clarinet, and it got me to thinking about what an excellent orchestrator he was, as well as one of the finest composers of all time (IMHO) --- and how he wrote some nice soloistic stuff for instruments rarely heard in that capacity (e.g. his superb Tuba Concerto). This led me to fantasize about how nice it would be if certain composers had written concerti for various instruments not frequently written for...........Some examples I dreamed up:
Vaughan Williams: Concerto for Bass Clarinet and Orchestra
Prokofiev: Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Orchestra
Samuel Barber (or maybe Howard Hanson?): Concerto for Alto Clarinet and Orchestra
Aram Khatchaturian: Concerto for Eb Clarinet and Orchestra
Alan Hovhaness: Concerto for Contrabass Clarinet and Orchestra
Any other fantasy concerto ideas out there?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-07-14 16:12
Mozart - Concerto #2 for Clarinet and Orchestra
Mozart - Double Concerto for 2 Clarinets and Orchestra
...GBK
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2004-07-14 16:37
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto No. 2
Beethoven: Violin Concerto No. 2
Brahms: Violin Concerto No. 2
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto No. 2
Lol, now more serious ideas:
Mozart Concerto No. 2 for Clarinet, of course
Mahler Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra
Tchaikovsky Concerto for Eb Clarinet
Dvorak Concerto for Bass Clarinet
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Author: CPW
Date: 2004-07-14 16:51
Some serious, and one not:
Mousorgsky Concerto for alto sax/ orch by Ravel
Corigliano "The Red Clarinet"
or at least one that is playable by those of us who are not named Drucker
Debussy Clar Concerto
Philip Glass Concerto on a theme of throat notes
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-07-14 16:52
Kevin,
You know that Dvorak hardly ever wrote bass clarinet into his works (as far as I know there are a few bars of b.c. in "Scherzo Capricioso" and that's about it!) --- so he might not have been too familiar with or very sympathetic to the instrument. Now on the other hand, Dvorak's son-in-law Joseph Suk wrote some fabulous bass clarinet parts into much of his music (e.g. the "Asrael" Symphony and the "Summer's Tales") ------ Just my two cent's worth.....
And to all.......why are clarinettists so enamored of Mozart? I just don't get it. Never mind, sorry I asked, it's like bringing up politics or religion.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-07-14 17:03
Messiaen: Concerto of Everlasting Light for Clarinet & Orchestra (or any other name you can dream up)
Eric Satie: (Not a concerto, but something along the lines of Choses vues à droite et à gauche but for clarinet & piano would have been interesting).
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Author: Brad
Date: 2004-07-14 17:15
Sibelius Clarinet Concerto
Brahms Clarinet Concerto
Ravel Bass Clarinet Concerto in A (for the left hand) :P
Brad Cohen
Clarinetist
la_brad@yahoo.com
Post Edited (2004-07-14 17:16)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-07-14 17:21
Brad,
Re: your Ravel suggestion: You are an evil man!
(I still have painful mental scars from having had to transpose the bass clarinet part to "La Valse" from the original written for bass clarinet in "A", bass clef!)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-07-14 17:30
"fantasy concerto ideas " Bob Burns: Concerto for Bazooka In A Flat....
(perhaps already composed but not discovered yet_)
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Author: Keil
Date: 2004-07-14 18:14
Glazounov (sp?) Clarinet Concerto
Weber Eb clarinet Concerto
Debussy Deuxieme Rapsody
Mahler Bassoon Concerto
Mozart piccolo concerto
Rachmaninov Bass clarinet concerto
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2004-07-14 18:27
Not just a concerto - but I wish beethoven had written more for clarinet period. Concerto, sonatas, you name it.
Respighi - Clarinet Concerto!
Poulenc - Clarinet Concerto
Mendelssohn - Clarinet Concerto
Shostakovich - Clarinet Concerto
Prokofiev - Clarinet Concerto
Bernstein - Clarinet Concerto
Tomasi & Bozza - Clarinet Concertos (okay... I know they wrote them, but try finding a recording in print!)
These are just a few I wish for...
DH
PS - in all fairness, we should make a list of concertos we wish had NEVER been written...
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2004-07-14 18:51
Copland: Concerto No. 2 for Clarinet (Dedicated to those who wish to play in even worse key signatures and higher than ever imagined)
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2004-07-14 19:36
Shostakovich - Double Concerto for E flat clarinet and Bass clarinet. He had plenty of practice in the symphonies.
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2004-07-14 19:44
Post Edited (2016-10-03 07:35)
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-07-14 20:19
Charles Widor, double concerto for Bb Clarinet and Alto saxophone with organ and choir.
Bradley: Many of those posted are very good, but I especially like your Grainger Clarinet with wind ensemble.
Regards,
John
Post Edited (2004-07-16 04:57)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-07-14 20:41
theclarinetist wrote:
> Mendelssohn - Clarinet Concerto
If it is anything like his Clarinet Sonata, don't bother ...GBK
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-07-14 20:43
JS Bach - triple concerto for clarinet and two basset horns
JS Bach - Clarinet Cantata
JS Bach - Suites for solo basset horn
Ellington - A Portrait of Anton Stadler (featuring Johnny Hodges on basset horn)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-07-14 20:43
How could we overlook:
John Cage: 4'34'' for Clarinet Choir, Gigantic Orchestra and Mahlerian Chorus?
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-07-14 21:21
Another one by Artie Shaw.
Hans
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2004-07-14 22:19
GBK - I knew someone would say something about the Mendelssohn Sonata = ) I was thinking more along the lines of the E minor Violin Concerto (his piano concertos are also nice)
DH
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
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Author: Bellflare
Date: 2004-07-15 00:38
PDQ Bach koncert-stuck for Ab Soporino Clarinet and Sarusaphone
Handel Water in the G# key music
Shubert Unfinished Clar. Concerto
Berlioz Clarinette Fantastique
Williams Variations on a Theme of Alien Visitation.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-07-15 02:26
Blair,
You are the hands down winner!
HRL
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Author: Squirrel
Date: 2004-07-15 05:08
Finzi- Double Concerto for 2 clarinets, concerto #2
Poulenc- Concerto for clarinet and orchestra
Debussy- Slightly-Easier Rhapsodie
Generally more double/triple concertos (What sounds better than a clarinet? Two clarinets!)
Yes, I know Premiere Rhapsodie isn't that hard in the scheme of things, but it's hard enough for me at the moment *grin*
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Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2004-07-15 05:56
Nielsen -
Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra
Concerto for Horn and Orchestra
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Author: marcia
Date: 2004-07-15 05:59
Slightly off topic, but related. I was in Morrie's shop a while ago picking up my alto clarinet. (Yes I know that puts me inthe "nerd" category but it got me into one of the foremost wind groups in the province). I had recently heard the VSO play the Dvorak cello concerto. I had less recently played it with my own amatuer orchestra. Morrie's assistent, Chris Millard, is a VSO member and he was quietly minding his own business when I picked up my alto and played the opening clarinet phrase. Chris nearly fell off his chair laughing, and Morrie laughed and said "of course, it's really an alto clarinet concerto!"
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-07-15 23:19
J.S. Bach, concerto for clarinet and chamber orchestra...a great piece of decomposition.
A Copland concerto that wasn't dedicated to Benny Goodman, so we could stop debating it.
A Mozart concerto for basset descending to low G.
A Nielsen concerto that doesn't take 6 months to learn.
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Author: Arnold the basset hornist
Date: 2004-07-16 07:23
Well, a more rare instumentation:
Concerto for 'picksüßes Hölzl' (high-G clarinet) and basset horn (for one solist to switch instruments) and orchestra
- perhaps I'm inspired by the concerto for flute, piccolo, clarinet and basset horn (one solist only) and Orchestra by Giovanni Simone Mayr.
Arnold (the basset hornist)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-07-16 10:49
Hi,
Does anyone remember the show piece that Don McCathern used to do on multiple clarinets? I remember that he performed it with the Ohio University Symphonic Band in about 1958 when I was a member. He used 7 different sized clarinets from Ab sopranino to BBb Contra during the piece. All were laid out on a table and he just switched.
I think he taugh at Duquense in Pittsbugh and was a clinician for Leblanc. Anyone recall the specifics better than what I have described?
HRL
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2004-07-16 21:26
Mozart Concerto for C-clarinet with accordion accompaniment.
Hmm... maybe I should have posted that on the ethnic clarinet board...
Steve Epstein
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Author: aaron0170
Date: 2004-07-17 05:41
Arvo Pärt-
Fratres for Clarinet and strings
Concerto
Eric Whitacre-
Concerto
anything for clarinet and chorus
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-07-17 11:09
Gavin Bryars...concerto for multitracked clarinets and multitracked orchestras.
My god, can you imagine??
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-07-17 15:08
Ok, Steve...
I myself wouldn't mind a Mozart Cto for clarinet & accordion...but I canNOT tell if you are mocking...LOL
And LeOpus beat me to my only suggestion for the Nielsens he didn't finish...
Katrina
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2004-07-17 21:33
I would really like a Concerto by Richard Strauss based on themes from Elektra and Salome. Just imagine the swirling lines.
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2004-07-17 21:46
Katrina,
Well, I was half-mocking
It would be fun to hear what something like that would actually sound like.
Steve Epstein
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-07-18 00:00
Well, Steve,
Ya know I _do_ play the Kegelstatt with a violinist and an accordionist. Yes really. The violinist _would_ play viola but she doesn't have a decent one. So we buck tradition. I'm not up to playing that piece on my C Albert horn though...nor is the C Albert horn...it has a few very unpredictably sticky keys. :P
To keep on topic:
Other things that would be good (and some which are impossible given actual music history):
Josquin Desprez: Mass for 6 clarinets (or I guess any concerto written to imitate his music...)
Brahms Concerto for Clarinet (I really don't care very much for the Berio orchestrations of the sonatas...they're ok, but not as spectacular as the originals)
Schumann Concerto for Clarinet (The lines for woodwinds in his piano concerto are really sweet!)
Anything Bach
Corelli Trio sonata(s) for 2 clarinets and continuo
Leonin or Perotin Organum for many clarinets
And a final question:
I have wracked my brain and cannot think of whether Mahler wrote ANY concerti at all for any instrument. Did he????
Katrina
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Author: Gazebo Dealer
Date: 2004-07-18 03:40
Bernstein Concerto, and Reicha Concerto for WW Quintet...pretty weird...but if anyone could do that for a quintet...Reicha could...and oh yeah...a Concerto by Brahms would be the most beautiful piece ever written...if you thought the beginning of Copland was nice...just imagine a major work by that guy...
Post Edited (2004-07-18 03:42)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-07-18 07:59
Katrina said:
> I have wracked my brain and cannot think of whether
> Mahler wrote ANY concerti at all for any instrument. Did he????
When Mahler was 16 he wrote his one solo instrumental work - the Sonata for violin and piano (1876) .
No other solo instrumental works are listed in his complete output...GBK
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2004-07-18 15:27
We desperately miss lots of music:
Some baroque music: Bach, Haendel
Something by Beethoven
Some german romantic stuff especially Brahms
Some russian fun prokofiev, shostakovich
Late 1800s french music, Saint Saens, Chausson, Faure.
more Debussy
Maybe something by Stravinsky, but since the early 1900s we can't really complain.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-07-19 00:06
I would love to hear a concerto for the odd wind cousins:
Concerto Grosso for Piccolo, English Horn, Bass Clarinet and Contrabassoon.
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Author: graham
Date: 2004-07-19 12:22
What's that instrument I hear in Dvorak's Noon Witch? I thought it was a bass clarinet.
Yesterday I played (for the first time) RVW's piece for clarinet, horn, strings, and piano. It is an early work (1898) so it does not sound much like his mature style, but it had some good bits. I understand it has been recorded.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-07-19 17:36
we could use a transcription of the complete Ring cycle for clarinet duet - sort of like Busch's transcriptions of Mozart opera arias.
Ideally, the Wagner should be a seamless transcription of all the Ring music.
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2004-07-19 17:41
How about:
P.D.Q. Bach's "Freddy and the Gopher in the Grand Canyon"
Bob A
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2004-07-19 19:40
David S. --
Pertinent to another thread, perhaps you could commission David Dow to write "Variations on a (Marketing) Theme of Vandoren." Each variation to be played on a different Vandoren mouthpiece model. This would be an open-ended work, of course.
Todd W.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-07-19 19:44
Todd,
Good idea! To which I would reply with my own composition, viz:
"Concerto on a Hackneyed Theme", consisting of the same note played over, and over, and over, and over..........
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-07-19 19:49
whoa! a cross-over post, expertly executed - score!
does anyone really read past the 35th posting?
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Author: Henry
Date: 2004-07-19 20:12
I certainly don't!
Henry
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2004-07-19 20:23
larryb -- Thank you. I'm honored to receive a rare compliment from the king of wry humor and koan-like wisdom -- "Play your flat notes sharper, and your sharp notes flatter." (Too bad you'll never read this post.)
David S. -- I've lost track, would that be David D's theme or yours?
(For the record, I appreciate and respect the knowledge and opinions of both y'all.)
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