 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amanda Rose
Date: 2000-12-19 20:51
Hi! I'm looking for a good choice of a solo to play for contest this year. I'm a junior and last year I went to state on the Mozart Concerto.
The solo that my teacher is having me do is really just far to easy and I'm not happy with it. I want to learn it, but I thought the idea of contest was to challenge me, and the song is not a challenge.
Any thoughts on a piece that is a step up from the Concerto? They all seem really short and I want something of decent length (considering just the allegro fo the concerto was 5 pages and my current on is 2 and a half! Even my frosh year one was 4 pages!)
Any thoughts?
Amanda Rose
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Author: Kim L.
Date: 2000-12-19 22:52
You may consider the following, all by Weber: Grand Duo Concertant(challenging, both rhythmically and technically); 1st Concerto( the first movement is quite lyrical, and technically challening); and the Concertino ( it is short, but it is challening in tone quality, technique, and rhythm).
Also, Debussy's Premiere Rhapsody( I haven't played, but it seems hard). Others are the Poulenc Sonata, the Willson Osborne Rhapsody, Saint-Saens Clarinet Sonata, and the two Brahms Sonatas.
Good luck.
Kim
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Author: katfish
Date: 2000-12-20 01:01
I would avoid the Premier Rhapsody. It is very dangerous to play for contest. Too many things can go wrong. I think you would like Adagio and Taratella by Cavellini. It's challenging and fun to play.
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Author: Keil
Date: 2000-12-20 01:26
hey if you have an A clarinet try the suttermiester cappricio or the 1st or 2nd piece of Stravinsky's three pieces.... I LOVE THEM!! the osborne rhapsody is gorgeous Too!!
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Author: Gene Wie
Date: 2000-12-20 01:51
If you're in for something French, Andre Messager's "Solo de Concours" is quite fun...that's if your fingers are up for it. =)
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Author: col
Date: 2000-12-20 02:56
i would encourage the messager solo de concours or weber concertino or cavallini adagio and tarantella / all of these are fairly mainstream rep that you will have to eventually learn and they are great fun.
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Author: William
Date: 2000-12-20 14:49
As a high school junior, I did the Mozart Concerto. My senior year I did the Cavallini Adagio-Tarantella--musically, a step backwards, but it was technically fun. In addition to the above posted suggestions, I would recommend Hindemuth, his Sonata or his Concerto (for which you will need an A clarinet). I loved these pieces and "pull them out" every onceinawhile to read for fun. Good clarineting.
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Author: Julia
Date: 2000-12-20 17:28
I've done the Weber Concertino, Mozart Concerto, Hindemith Sonata, and Marty Fantasy. All are great peices...and challenging--both technically and musically.
May I ask what piece your teacher is having you do now, that you want to change?
Good luck,
julia
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Author: Laur
Date: 2000-12-20 19:43
I am working on the Mozart Concerto now, for my all state audition/ Grade 6 NYSSMA Audition, but In lessons I am working on Cavallini's Caprices. He is an wonderful composer, and his work is amazing. I've played his Tarentela and it's great. Good Luck !
Laurie
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Author: Amanda Rose
Date: 2000-12-20 20:18
Right now my teacher has me doing Mozart's Quintet. It's a nice piece and I like it. I want to learn it, but it feels like a step back. I'll learn it, but I want to really challenge myself for contest. My WW Quintet is harder than my solo! That shouldn't be... at least I don't think so.
(My WW Quintet is the Beethoven Op. 71)
Amanda Rose
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Author: Daniel Bouwmeeszer
Date: 2000-12-21 15:29
Amanda,
I have done many contests and am going to do international ones such as the Nielsen, or The Geneva contest.
The choice of the piece depends mainly on the judges...
If the judges are clarinetists, or are music critics, or are very competent judging clarinet repertoire, then I would suggest to you going for modern, which is much more likely to show technique.
Classical pieces are usually appreciated by more people and more judges.... I have often been misjudged because the judges didn't like contempory music.
Think of the room too, the power of the piano... Everything is important...
Difficult classical pieces ?
Try Louis Spohr's concerto N°1. It's one of the hardest piece I know.... there's everything in it... there's even a super high C.
Otherwise, the Weber concertos are good as well as Weber's concertino and duo concertant and quintet.
Brahms is good too, if you like to show your musicality.
You can also play the Stamitz concerto's which are good too, but less hard...
If you prefer modern music you could try the following :
Stravinski three pieces
Lutoslawski, Dance preludes
Martinu, Sonatine
Poulenc, sonata
Debussy, première Rhapsodie
Recommendations for contests :
The judging depends on different factors :
Phrasing (musicality)
Technique
Rithm
Tone
tuning
General feeling about your interpretation
If the judges suck, show lotsa notes to impress them
If the judges are good, show your musicality..
Amanda, I would like to tell you something about Mozart's concerto and quintet..
These pieces are probably the two most played clarinet pieces worldwide in concert halls by professionals. These pieces are very difficult, probably the hardest pieces to play of the whole clarinet repertoire... WHY ?
Mozart's compositions are very simple and very perfect, no note is too much, no note is missing. Mozart doesn't sound right if it's not played perfectly....
You are probably very talented if you are playing repertoire as a junior, but don't be big headed. And don't neglect Mozart's repertoire.
Do you know which piece is on the final for the Nielsen contest 2001 in Odensee, Denmark?
MOZART'S CONCERTO !!!!!!!
Remember... technique for music and not music for technique !
Good luck
Daniel Bouwmeester
Geneva, Switzerland
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Author: Ken
Date: 2000-12-22 18:57
Any of the pieces mentioned above are wonderful selections, all standard classical and contemporary works. They all adequately demonstrate and show off the players' degree of skill in rhythm, technique, phrasing, tone and musicality. However, if it was me, I would avoid playing the Mozart Concerto. Not because of how difficult is to play well, but that everybody knows it, has played it, have their own personal interpretation of it and judges tend to be more critical. Plus the fact that the piece in my opinion is way over-played in contests as beautiful and perfect as it is, and judges will be hearing it dozens of times during the competition and can simply turn off, lose interest and the performer risks getting lost in a sea of clarinet players.
I would suggest the following pieces that will make you surely "stand out" among the crowd, are very demanding both technically and musically as well as exciting
for the listener. The absolute best in your competition.
- Deuxieme Sonate for clar and piano by F. Devienne
- Sonatina for clar and piano by Antoni Szalowski
- Sonatina for clar and piano by Bohuslav Martinu
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Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2000-12-23 10:42
Amanda Rose:
I do not know where you are located, but if I were you I would have my teacher (private/school) check to see if there is a PRESCRIBED LIST for solos, etc., if this is to be for a high school entry or somethning like that. In Texas we have the University Interscholastic League (UIL) which issues a prescribed list of solos for ALL instruments, ensembles, etc. every four years from which a contestant may choose a selection. If your piece is not on the list you PROBABLY will be DISQUALIFIED from playing!!! If your teacher sends in a list of applicants to the contest chairman for your school then it is your and his responsibility to be sure that the selection is on the list. Please check this out with your teacher to be on the SAFE side. Most states have such an organization which prescribes the music for this type of contest. If it is a different type of contest be sure about whether or not there is any kind of presecribed list would be my suggestion. There are usually many selections and grades of difficuly to choose from on these lists, including the Debussy Premiere Rhapsody.
Good Luck,
Bob Curtis
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Author: Gene Wie
Date: 2000-12-24 11:44
Hmmm...okay, forget Messager for the moment. =)
I played Copland's concerto with orchestra two years ago and I've never had as much fun with any piece, period. Listen to the recordings by Goodman and Stoltzman, and take a gander at how the same piece sounds completely different. Check out any of the other recordings from various artists and see what sort of creative liberties they've taken. I'm dying for the chance to perform the piece again sometime in the near future; just for the chance to play it completely differently.
But seriously, the Copland concerto has a lot of grace and character, and really shows off all the good sides of the clarinet. It's a complete package: lush melodies, finger pyrotechnics, classical and jazz influences, flying in the register stratosphere...definitely a piece to look at.
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Author: bawa
Date: 2006-11-15 11:20
Daniel,
Thanks for a very interesting post.
I was thinking about this concept of done this, step lower, step up piece? Surely that is not the right approach to music making.
Without wanting to criticise the original poster in any way, can you ever say, "I have now played the Mozart, and there is nothing to better it"? Surely there is always going to be room to improve as you develop as a player?
The clarinet student in our house is currently working on Schumman Fantasy & Crusell No 2, and she has a CD of Antony Pay playing the latter: surely it was not a "step down" for him? I noticed that the Schumann Fantasy is listed as the audition piece for one of the London Conservatories, but I am sure the standard/technique/musicality/etc etc demanded for the playing there would be more than what my daughter is currently producing (which is very nice as well).
I was just wondering about this been there/done that mentality in terms of music.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-11-15 15:19
Back in the Mesozoic Era when I was in school, I did the Hindemith Sonata (on bass clarinet) for solo festivals, which was fine for me (it sounds harder than it is, which is great for the clarinetist!) but it was very difficult for my piano accompanist, who was one of my all-time favorite people (my Dad) but not the greatest pianist in the world -- so we had some problems. Just a warning -- consider the accompaniment (if any) when you are making your decision.
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Author: Jhall
Date: 2006-11-15 15:38
Amanda,
Bob is correct. The Wisconsin School Music Association has a list for solo and ensemble music festivals in our state.
Included in the Standard Repertoire are:
Petite Piece, Quet
Sonata, Poulenc
Fantasie - Caprice, Op 118, LeFebvre
(Concerto, Mozart)
Concerto No. I in F Minor, von Weber
Concerto No. 2 Op. 74, von Weber
Introduction, Theme, and Variations, Rossini
Variations for Clarinet and Piano, Rossini/Neufeld
Concertino Op 26, von Weber (in Clarinet Classics collection)
Clarinet Quintet, Mozart
There are 14 others also listed in Event 203 Clarinet Solo. The list is online at www.wsmamusic.com.
Good Luck!
John
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Author: eric293
Date: 2006-11-15 16:41
Widor's Introduction et Rondo
Buffet R13-M15 w/ 3 1/2-V12
Attending Interlochen Arts Academy
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2006-11-15 18:59
By now, I doubt Amanda is eligible for high school state competitions. (I certainly hope she isn't.)
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2006-11-17 15:46)
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