The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2013-03-19 21:03
Hi all,
I need to cut down a performance of Rossini's Introduction, Theme and Variations to around 5 minutes, maybe a touch over. This is for a performance with wind band. It has to remain 'showy', as this is for a competition. I think I might cut the slow variation, and I feel the introduction is a little too long.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-03-20 00:02
Cut out the middle of the intorduction, use your musicail sense where to make the cut, you have to have some of it. Don't do any repeats and leave out the slow varation before the end. You could also cut part of the ending if it's still too long.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-03-20 00:09
What's the unshortened length? If you go seven minutes, they can hardly come out and drag you off the stage. Also, it's not a contest, timed on a stopwatch, so you won't lose any credit. Lie, lie, lie.
The slow variation and the variation in the minor (often combined) are essential parts of any theme-and-variations, so as a matter of structure, they should stay. On the other hand, they're the simplest cut and save the most time. . . .
Ken Shaw
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2013-03-20 00:38
I'll tell you one thing not to do. Once I played with a band and the director took out all of the little instrumental interludes so I had no time to rest. I thought I was gonna die.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2013-03-20 15:33
I surely would NOT omit the slow minor movement. I think that the introduction is wonderful, but might hold it to just the first page.
I'm working this up for a recital and will probably end up skipping (some of) the repeats in the variations.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-03-21 03:36
How about billing the work simply as "Theme and Variations," dropping the introduction entirely and not taking any repeats.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2013-03-23 23:25
Can't get this one out of my head. You can't cut this marvelous piece anywhere. It's well balanced the way it is written. If I were a judge, cuts would cost you probably 80% of your score. It's saying, this music is crap, so I can leave out the boring parts and leave in some fast stuff to wow you with. Even leaving out a repeat would indicate you don't like the music.
At least pretend you like the piece, and maybe the audience will too. Otherwise, what's the point?
Either they let you play the score as written, or find something else to play.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-03-24 05:06
Philip, remembering that there is a 5-minue time limit, what pieces for clarinet and wind band would you recommend as an alternative?
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2013-03-24 12:57
Jack, before I posted I asked myself that question - what piece might meet the time requirement for a competition? I know of no good answer. All the pieces that come to my mind take over 5 minutes. None of them should be cut.
I just spent some time searching and listening on the Internet. Any results that were less than 5 minutes were, well, not in the category of the Rossini (though I heard a solo piece by Henry Fillmore that wasn't bad.)
Did the people who made the competition rules have pieces in mind? I'd love to hear them.
The original poster did say "around 5 minutes", so I would say there's leeway. Like anything in single digits, ha. If they have the Rossini ready, then play the whole thing. I would expect other competitors would make a similar decision anyway.
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2013-03-25 21:15
I've been asked by the powers that be to cut it. I'm getting to play this as a soloist, I'd rather play a 5 minute version than not at all because the piece "can't be cut". Get real!
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