The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-04-22 22:12
There has been quite a discussion on/by the Yahoo bass clarinet group of this music, featureing [I believe] soprano, bass and contrabass clarinets in contemporary musical ?jazz? style. It seems to me that this might be suitable for our community band performances. Comments, please. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2003-04-23 14:08
A neighbouring high school wind ensemble just performed it well for district evaluation, and it was the judges' favourite.
Bradley
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Author: HAT
Date: 2003-04-23 14:19
Never heard the piece, but I know that Tichelli has made over a million bucks on it. Not bad for a composer these days.
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Author: Clarence
Date: 2003-04-23 16:26
I did a search on the internet and found an mp3. Except for the little clarinet solo at the end, it sounds like a movie sound track.
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Author: cyso_clarinetist
Date: 2003-04-23 17:50
This may be stupid to mention, but for all of you know who know. Where the prelude to the slow part starts. There’s a flute solo, a Soprano clarinet solo, and Bass clarinet solo and the Contra Solo. Well the contra solo is usually played by the tuba if there isn't a contra. If there is a bass clarinet available that has the Low C extension, wouldn't it make more sense to have it played by a bass clarinet?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-04-23 20:33
I've played this piece twice in the last year or two (bass clarinet both times), the second time with Tichelli himself conducting (he's a fine conductor, too, by the way). Great piece, a ball to play. We don't have a contra clarinet in this particular wind ensemble so I can't comment about the significance of the contra part.
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Author: ken
Date: 2003-04-24 17:39
cyso_clarinetist wrote: "If there is a bass clarinet available that has the Low C extension, wouldn't it make more sense to have it played by a bass clarinet?"
--No, Tichelli selected the contra color specifically. Clearly, the contrast with the stacking/handing off of the melody between clarinet and bass clarinet crys out for the contra voice. In context with all the crosstalk in the slow section it makes perfect sense the part should be covered if at all possible
It's been 6+ years but as I recall, Frank Tichelli sent us final drafts and used our concert band to proof the chart before sending it up to the publisher. In my experience, Blue Shades is not a throw away concert band piece that just any high school or All-County band can pull off ... unless they enjoy thoroughly embarrassing themselves in fron of an audience. You actually have to be able to read ledger lines, apply most/all the standard fingerings on your instrument and read multiple meter. It's a well-written, clever, fun, jazzy/blusey-type contemporary piece and crowd pleaser that's already been overplayed and recorded to death (hence the million-dollar pay day I'm sure) ... at the frequency in which it's played it's destined to be the band industry's next "Festive Overture" or "Holst's Band Suites". v/r Ken
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-04-24 19:18
This is my first try at posting to an archived thread [Mark C] ! The only Blue Shades music-availability I've found was via MamhattAn Beach Music, $125/set [as HAT "pointed-out"] . Re: MY caps, single-L and A , my errors!, thot they might interfere with your retrieval, didn't for me! Ken's [ later] comments are partic. interesting. I asked our local FM-Music sta., to play it, dont have it I guess, they played a very-intriguing-difficult [above 5, IMHO] Poulenc clar ?trio?, real ?avante-garde? Just up-dating, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Bass Clarinet
Date: 2003-05-10 09:19
Okay, so my response is a little late, but I LOVE this piece.
I'm a big Tichelli fan in general.
I was lucky enough to play the contra solo in all-state my junior year. I think it's critical...but I might be biased
I don't think a low C extention bass would play low enough, or else, I trust that Tichelli would have given it to the bass clarinet.
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Author: ken
Date: 2003-05-10 16:12
Since this thread's been temporarily resurrected and anyone's thinking of sending a version of Blue Shades to Don, you don't have to. I mailed him a CD of one of our live performances for a reference. And, after running it off and listening through it once to ensure the recording was whole, Don's in for an unknowingly unique phenomena. Our bass clarinetist (MM from Northwestern, studied with Dagon as well as across town with Combs) in a portion of her solos regaled all with a squawk that'd be the envy of a screech owl. She then turned around, apparently got ticked off and nailed the snot out of the rest of the chart that in itself would be the envy of Ron Reuben or J. Laurie Bloom. First time in 5 years working with her I ever heard her squeak on any of her doubles not alone a clam. Definitely a Memorex moment! Enjoy Don! v/r Ken
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-10 20:37
Wow, what a story, Ken, CDs just arrived, will sit back and enjoy shortly. I'm in Okla and believe it or not, we are having another round of Tstorms/tornados today, I was up late last nite wondering if our daughter&family in OKC were getting blown away, happily little damage around them. Please, someone, turn off the wind/rain/hail switch, we've had 10 yrs worth already. Multi TKS, Ken, will report!! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-11 20:06
Gosh, Ken, what a fine piece of music and VERY WELL played, sounds too tough for me and my band, would like to eye-ball the charts! Bass cl part really "Nailed". I haven't yet sorted-out the "high-overtone" from the other sop. "goings-on", just played twice as yet! Great full band CD also. The RosenK request is on its way. Mark C, if this is too much of a personal E-M, delete it, I'll get the message. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Vick
Date: 2003-05-18 04:50
OHHH! Blue Shades is a wonderful wonderful piece. I just played it this past year with my high school. We did quite well at the Heretage Festival.......got an overall score of 96(and the grand champ...just thought I would brag a little!). Great moment! Yeah, but anyways......I have heard a recording when the tuba took over the contras part, it doesnt sound right. The woodwind clarinet color is disturbed by that tuba sound. ehhhh, but it is written in the cues for them. Maybe we could ask tickelli himself! Blue Shades is a work of art. I loved playing that extended clarinet solo, never had that much fun playing anything in my life! Wooo!!!!!!!
Vicky
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-18 15:32
TKS for saying it in modern terms, Vicky, and reincarnating [word AND sp?] this fun thread. Ken, I've played the CDs all GREAT, loaned the Shades to reliable, musical friends, want it back. The Rosenkavalier request is progressing, Tulsa Band is looking forward to it, I understand its a difficult 5, will see if we can cut it. Careful listening to Blue Shades shows how well-played those tough! clar parts were, congrats and thanx to your whole A F band, keep it up! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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