 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: NHM
Date: 2008-01-11 13:20
This is a brand new orchestra based in Glasgow City Halls. We're called the Merchant Sinfonia and the orchestra has been set up jointly by Glasgow City Council and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. The original idea was to have an orchestra for all abilities that the players could dip in and out of as time allowed, but the response has been so overwhelming that rehearsals are being held in 10 week blocks with an almost completely new lineup for each block. We had our first rehearsal on Tuesday and the conductor is so appreciative of everyones ability (unfortunately she's a cellist, but you can’t have everything!) and everyone is so friendly. We are playing the second movement of Beethoven's 7th, Haydn's Symphony no 104, Souza's the Liberty Bell and Sibelius' Finlandia so there is a fair mix of styles to get my head around.
Having just returned to clarinet after a 35 year layoff and having had 6 lessons, a morning with the SSO in a taster session, an afternoon and 1 rehearsal with the Merchant Sinfonia I am hooked and cannot wait for next Tuesday. Our sectional this week was run by Barry Deacon, the second Clarinet with the SSO, and with his expertise and patience I have made a giant leap in technique already reaching notes I never thought possible.
My 3 children play in school and Glasgow Schools orchestras and I have always been slightly envious of the chances afforded them so now it's my turn and I cannot wait to play in a public performance.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-01-11 14:14
Congratulations! I sincerly hope you will enjoy playing with this group. I play with a community band that really is an enjoyable experience. I have found it helps me to keep in shape for other endeavours with my instrument and also opens up avenues for friendships with musicians in my own city. We don't have a community orchestra, although I would much prefer the orchestral music and instrumentation.
It also has its share of frustrations, but is worth it. When it stops being fun or beneficial, that's the time to bow out.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D
Date: 2008-01-15 18:45
sounds like you are going to have blocks where you wont be able to play while someone else has a go. I heartily recommend making as many contacts as possible while you are in an active block, and then trying to get a small informal group together who aren't scheduled for the next block who want to get together and play anyway. I have done this with musical acquaintances before and it's great fun. You can often get fairly cheap music for small groups in charity shops - or perhaps the main orchestra has access to a music library that you can also access for a small fee. We just did an arrangement of the BlackAdder Theme by Howard Goodall. oboe, clarinets and saxes. excellent fun except for the oboe who has to get a top Ab.
Enjoy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevensfo
Date: 2008-01-15 21:08
-- "You can often get fairly cheap music for small groups in charity shops - or perhaps the main orchestra has access to a music library that you can also access for a small fee." --
There's also a huge amount of free out-of-copyright material that you can print from the internet.
--"We just did an arrangement of the BlackAdder Theme by Howard Goodall. oboe, clarinets and saxes." --
I heard about that. Apparently one day Howard woke up and said "I have a cunning plan!" ;-)
Steve
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: swkeess
Date: 2008-01-16 01:25
Is there a website where you order this arrangement of the Black Adder theme by Howard Goodall? I've just done a Google search and cannot find any small chamber ensemble arrangements, only piano and choral arrangements by this composer. I'm located in Montreal, Canada. Thanks for any help you can give, as it sounds like great fun to play.
Susan Keess
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-01-16 01:47
Oh man. Congrats on the community orchestra! I'd LOVE to find and join a community band/orchestra again. Just nothing around me and my schedule's crazy where I am. But maybe when I move . . . .
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2008-01-16 08:04
Great! Not only a community orchestra, but masterclasses from the pros. I know a lot of pro orchestras have educational programs, but this sounds an exceptional opportunity. The only problem sound like the layoffs - perhaps there are enough wind players to form a wind band as well?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D
Date: 2008-01-16 18:25
Right, the Blackadder.
By Howard Goodall
Arranged by R Denwood
PSS 9626
Copyright 1983 Noel Gay Music, 8/9 Frith St London W1
It has I think 6 or 7 parts and these are written out for several instruments. We have used lots of combinations but you can get away with pretty much anything as long as there is a mad oboe on the top line. The tune repeats three times, the Elizabethan version, the Georgian version and then the Edwardian version - which could really do with a couple of trumpets being whipped out for, but we don't have any as at the moment it is reeds only.
We have also done an arrangement of the Clog Dance by Louis Herold which is arranged by S Denwood (don't know if R changed his name to S or what is going on there). Similar sort of thing. Published by Phoenix Music. There is a clog part - which is played in our band by a coconut mounted on a foot operated stand.
The other thing we seem to do a lot of is the million versions of Glen Miller tunes written for small wind ensembles.
The Blackadder totally rocks though - I think the wearing of codpieces should be compulsory while playing.
If you stick 'blackadder PSS 9626' in google then there are a couple of places selling it. You might have to have it shipped though.
Highland music has a massive list of them actually - Clog Dance is on there too, and the Red Dwarf Theme! I might have to go shopping!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
