 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BlockEyeDan
Date: 2005-04-06 18:47
Good afternoon all,
I'm putting the finishing touches on my spring recital, which is rapidly approaching (April 23rd). As of now I'm performing the second movement of Saint-Saens's op. 167. My accompanist and I have been mulling over an additional piece to perform. I was thinking of Brubeck's 'Take Five'. I figure that it would be a piece that would be immediately recognizable to the audience. If ANYBODY recognized the Saint-Saens, I'd be shocked.
Has anybody ever performed this piece on clarinet? If anybody has, did they play it in the original key? I was thinking of transposing it to start in A-minor. Also, I have use of the school's bass clarinet (a scuffed-up but perfectly serviceable and free-blowing Bundy low-Eb). I figured that the richness of the bass clarinet would be a nice timbral contrast to my Bb; not to mention that 'Take Five' would be a great contrast to Saint-Saens!
Any advice, observations, pointers, ridicule, etc. would be greatly appreciated! I hope that all in New England are enjoying this fine spring day.
Thank you all,
Dan
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-04-06 19:00
I would think Take Five would work better on soprano clarinet than bass, given the soprano's sonic resemblance to Paul Desmond's dry, light alto sax playing.
but your version doesn't need to resemble the original.
truth be told, I think it's fairly dull music
why not play a transcription of Coleman Hawkins' 1940 recording of "Body and Soul" on bass clarinet - that would be excellent! I'm sure the music is out there somewhere.
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Author: jblock
Date: 2005-04-06 20:14
I think Take Five is a good choice because many folks will recognize the tune. I play many (well, try to) many songs where sax was the lead and I think it works fine.
Body and Soul is also a good choice, but you might as well check out Benny Goodman's 1935 recording (basically on most Goodman compilations) rather than Hawkins 1939 recording, which is his most famous rendition.
Good luck,
Jonathan
www.synthblock.com
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-04-06 20:30
Gerry Mulligan also did a nice "Take Five" on baritone sax, which is in the same register as bass clarinet. I would think it would work very well on bass clarinet (I did it once years ago at a jam session).
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Author: pgporto
Date: 2005-04-06 22:11
Here's a clip of Take Five that features a clarinetist, although I'm not familiar with who it is. He plays in the beginning and end; the rest of the video is a drum solo with Randy Jones. Maybe this is the same as the recording mentioned above?
http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/randyjones.html
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Author: clarinet87
Date: 2005-04-08 03:28
I've played Take Five before, but rather than reading it from sheet music I just picked it out by ear. IMO it sounds really good when played on a clarinet. When you play it try playing on a really light reed, like strength 1.5 or 2. This gives you a thinner and brighter sound, which makes the clarinet sound like a sax.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-04-08 05:12
"This gives you a thinner and brighter sound, which makes the clarinet sound like a sax."
Why would you want to sound like a sax?
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Author: ned
Date: 2005-04-08 05:36
""Body and Soul is also a good choice, but you might as well check out Benny Goodman's 1935 recording (basically on most Goodman compilations) rather than Hawkins 1939 recording, which is his most famous rendition.""
You're kidding......(rather than Hawkins).......aren't you? The Hawkins solo I know of is a tour de force..............maybe Goodman did it before him, but so what?
And my take on Take Five....................Paul Desmond is great......what a cool smooth sound (no vibrato either eh?........., that'll please a lot of you).
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Author: kenabbott
Date: 2005-04-08 11:58
Dan, I did "Take Five" on alto sax to close a recital that I did at my home last year and it was a big hit. On on any clarinet or sax, it will be fine.
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Author: jblock
Date: 2005-04-08 12:08
""Body and Soul is also a good choice, but you might as well check out Benny Goodman's 1935 recording (basically on most Goodman compilations) rather than Hawkins 1939 recording, which is his most famous rendition.""
You're kidding......(rather than Hawkins).......aren't you? The Hawkins solo I know of is a tour de force..............maybe Goodman did it before him, but so what?
I only pointed out Goodman's version since he wants to play the solo on clarinet, so relax.
Jonathan
www.synthblock.com
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Author: clarinet87
Date: 2005-04-08 20:34
"Why would you want to sound like a sax?"
I would want to sound like a sax because that's the type of tone I would want if I was playing Take Five. Plus, it's really neat when you perform it and everybody in the audience is like, "Cool, that clarinet sounds like a sax, how does he do that?"![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif)
Post Edited (2005-04-08 20:54)
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