 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Don Gross
Date: 2008-07-28 01:08
I've been asked to play bass clarinet with the Orange County (California) Symphony. As an orchestral soprano clarinet player with the Topanga (California) Symphony and a bass/contra alto/contrabass clarinet player with the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir, I'm almost embarassed to ask the following. Hoping that there are no dumb questions: Are there bass clarinets parts for Festive Overture (Shostakovich), Bolero (Ravel), and Symphony No. 9 (Dvorak)? My "guess" is that there are indeed bass clarinet parts for the Ravel and Shostakovich. Thanks for your collective help.
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2008-07-28 02:49
Only the Bolero has a bass part. It's an easy one too.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-07-28 18:09
Dave got it right but didn't mention that it's one of the most boring parts in the literature. Fun piece, boring part. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-07-28 18:44
Bolero calls for, among other things, Eb clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Soprano Sax and Tenor Sax. Is it possible to double up any of these parts? Or do they all play pretty much continuously throughout the piece?
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2008-07-28 18:53
I think it's possible to play the principal clarinet part and the soprano sax part. If I'm not mistaken, Larry Combs used to do it this way.
And yes, Bolero is boring to play, especially the bass part.
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Author: marcgilly
Date: 2008-07-28 22:14
I thought it was the Eb clarinet and soprano sax parts you can double as the Eb part only has its solo and that's it.
Yes, boring to play but fun to listen to while playing if you've got some good soloists!
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Author: Don Gross
Date: 2008-07-28 23:33
Thanks, everyone, for your input. It's sincerely appreciated. With regard to Bolero, is there anyone on the face of the planet that does not now associate Bolero with Bo Derek? I thought not. That "visual" image in itself will keep the bass clarinet part from becoming boring. And yes, I actually have Volume I of Michael Drapkin's books and will definitely get Volumes II and III when the OCS programs any of those works. Thanks again!
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-07-29 02:49
Don, you're showing your age but I remember Bo Derek well too. By the way, Festive Overture has three clarinets, but no bass and Dvorak wrote very few bass clarinet parts. The only symphony with bass clarinet is his 5th, and that's on the 1st clarinet part, strange. By the way, when we do the Ravel in the BSO we use one sax player to play both parts. Good luck, ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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Author: donald
Date: 2008-07-29 11:20
Bolero? tenor, then soprano... with a quick change- I had to do this in a Philharmonia rehearsal once, I was booked for Soprano only but the Tenor player was stuck in an airport and missed the first rehearsal... so I bravely turned up with both instruments.
We only had about 30 or 40 min scheduled to rehearse the piece, I played the Tenor solo quite nicely i thought... then did the quick swap over- had a little trouble getting the tenor back on the stand... stuffed the Soprano in my mouth just in time for the downbeat and... lets just say i didn't quite "find the spot" embouchure wise
the most horrible sound like a goose came out. I was very embarrassed! String players turned their heads to see who/what was making the awful noise (though Fortunately my performance in the concert later that week was much more artistic- thank goodness, it was broadcast live across NZ on the Classical radio station).
After that experience, I'm much more cautious where quick instrument changes are concerned- I'm well aware it can be done well, i'd just rather someone else was responsible.
dn
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2008-07-29 12:41
Bolero? Torvill and Dean, this side of the Pond.
'It is my masterpiece,' said Ravel. 'It's just a shame there is no music in it'. :-)
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Author: William
Date: 2008-07-29 23:08
"stuffed the Soprano in my mouth just in time for the downbeat and... lets just say i didn't quite "find the spot" embouchure wise
the most horrible sound like a goose came out. "
Perfect example of an orchestral clarinetist who thinks the saxophone is a simple instrument that anyone can learn to play in one rehearsal. A good sax player should be able to "find the spot" in his sleep, every time as well as sight read the Bolero sax parts correctly the first time--no rehearsal or warm-up (at least, not for me). Sorry to rant, but I am just tired of those hybred "uppity" orchestral clarinet "specialists" who look down on the saxophone as a serious instrument--some even refusing to learn the simplest of sax techique because it might "ruin the embouchures" or some other lame excuse, refusing to do a little extra work in becoming a more versitile woodwind artist. We have one here, a performance major from Northwestern who studied with Marcellus, who states openly that he hates to play the Eb and has no interest in learning to play the bass--much less those evil saxphones. OK, enough from me, but a statement like the one above just makes me cringe. A soprano sax should never sound like a goose--sorry.......................
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2008-07-30 01:12
Its great to know that Bolero still bothers so many players..it has the weirdest variety of combinations and yet tonally and coloristically it works. The saxophone is a very tough instrument..intonation on the sax is very tricky..far more so I think than the clarinet in a number of ways.
David Dow
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Author: davidsampson
Date: 2008-07-30 03:07
William: I don't think Donald meant that he had trouble finding the spot because he is not a very good saxophone player, or looks down upon playing saxophone. I think he moved the instrument up too quickly and did not have time to set his embouchre due to the short break for the instrument change. It's something I have done playing clarinet as well, and has nothing to do with how well I know my embouchre or how serious I take clarinet playing.
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Author: donald
Date: 2008-07-30 09:59
Hey, I understand where William is coming from... but in this case (due to neck strap hang ups) I really did ONLY JUST get the thing in my mouth. I love the saxophone and while it's true that I have spent the majority of my music life with a clarinet in my hands, I try to make regular time to practise the sax and certainly work on my orchestral parts way in advance to ensure that I don't deliver 2nd rate goods (esp given that most APO concerts are broadcast live).
For that Bolero performance I spent a lot of time working on intonation for the Soprano solo, and it all worked out fine thanks to some imaginative fingerings. My experience with Alto and Tenor is that there are far fewer intonation problems than on the clarinet (and in recent years I have received compliments from colleagues on my clarinet intonation so I ain't no slouch) and quite enjoy this aspect of Saxophone playing. The Boehm inspired acoustical layout (holes larger the further down the tube) gives such an even response/resistance... and my Tenor really is so easy to play in tune, I can concentrate on MUSIC.
So this last week I have been playing Tenor for Romeo and Juliet with the RNZ Ballet, but now it's back to the Opera as Principal for the ONZ winter tour- I've got to say that I'm glad to be back on the clarinet... oh, but I have to start work on eefer and bass for my big "trippling gig" that's coming up... and some composer wants me to show her the Chalumeau in a few weeks so she can incorporate it in a new work... TOO MANY INSTRUMENTS TO PLAY! I may not be the best Saxophone player in the world, but it's not because I don't take it seriously!
keep playing the good tunes
dn
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