 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2003-04-29 15:47
Great news (for me)!
I posted a couple of days ago ("Another concert band piece that uses the low C on the bass ") about how I substituted for a friend in the Indiana Wind Symphony for their April concert. Well, I noticed that, in the program, they listed me with the other bass/contrabass clarinet players whereas a few players (bass sax, soprano sax) that supplemented the ensemble to give the needed instrumentation for the Mertens piece were listed with special thanks at the end of the roster. I also noticed that I received the email the conductor sent out Monday morning congratulating the group on the performance and outlining the May rehearsal schedule. So, I sent an email back to the conductor asking if I could infer from these things that they wanted me to continue to play with them or, instead, if they wanted me to continue as a backup player. The email I received from him in response simply said "We would definitely like to have you continue with the IWS!"
I really look forward to being a part of this group, but not giving up my place in the other band I play in. Normally, one has to audition to get in the Wind Symphony (In fact, they have auditions coming up on May 10.), but I guess the rehearsals I attended and the concert I played counted as my audition. I would never have had the nerve to audition for them otherwise. I'm sure I'll grow musically in trying to live up to the standards of the group.
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-04-29 16:20
Hot News! ![[hot]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/hot.gif) .
Congratulations, I lift a toast to you Don. ![[toast]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley15.gif)
Bob A
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-04-29 16:36
Way to go!
Isn't it great getting a little recognition and appreciation every so often? You've earned it.v
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-04-29 18:52
Don,
Congratulations! Enjoy your new gig, and here's a little vignette for you.
Here on the Right Coast I had to take a 'back-door" approach to get into the local wind symphony --- they already had two bass clarinetists, both of whom had been with the group for some years, so I offered to play contra-alto clarinet just to get my foot in the door (even though I didn't own such an instrument at the time and hadn't played one since high school!). They accepted my proposal, and then (my bluff having been called) I had to go out on eBay to procure a bargain contra, and fix it up a bit. Started playing with the group (also playing occasional alto clarinet when there was no need for the contra), finished out the season with them. I'd always keep the bass clarinet in the trunk of the car in case one or both of the bass clarinets were not at rehearsal. Well, the following season one of the original bass clarinet players simply disappeared, and the other player had some school committments and couldn't play with the group for that season, so I ended up becoming the regular bass clarinetist (which is what I wanted to play all along) --- and three years later, I'm still there. Proving, I suppose, that sometimes persistence and dumb luck are superior to talent and/or political connections..........Although I'm sure in your case talent had a lot to do with your recent accomplishment!
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-04-29 19:53
Dave, what else is in the trunk of your car? " one of the original bass clarinet players simply disappeared."? ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
Bob A
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Author: JamesE
Date: 2003-04-29 19:56
Don,
great news and best wishes.
Dave,
sounds like "smart" luck to me.
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Author: Tim P
Date: 2003-05-01 11:00
Congratulations. One of my goals is to get paid to play the clarinet. Not just get paid but to to get paid and recieve an invitation to return and play again. I figure that I could bullshit some little group to let me play once but the true test is to get ask to play agian. Since I am just starting to play again, I figure it will be at least ayear before this happens.
I can not imagine what it must be like to play for a top notch organization. once again, Congradulations.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-05-01 14:32
John Bruce-Yeh (Chicago Symphomy Orchestra Associate Principal Clarinetist) says that bass clarinet is a good "entry" instrument. When he discovered that he could not attend the music school he wanted to because the quota for clarinet majors had already been met, he re-applied as a bass clarinet major, and was accepted. He went on to say that he "switched his major instrument to the soprano clarinet the first chance he got."
But his main point was that being able to play the auxillary clarinets can open more doors of opportunity.
WAY TO GO, DON!!!! (enjoy)
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Author: William Hughes ★2017
Date: 2003-05-01 15:57
Auxiliary clarinets ?!!!!!? Is a tuba an "auxiliary" trumpet? Is a cello an "auxiliary" violin? I suggest the bass clarinet contributes uniquely to ensemble performance on its own merits.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-05-01 17:27
Speaking of John Bruce Yeh: He may have taken it up merely as a stepping-stone to playing the soprano clarinet, but he really does play the heck out of the bass clarinet! Hear him on his CD "Dialogues with My Shadow" playing a difficult unaccompanied bass clarinet piece --- VERY fine playing indeed. Those of us who consider the bass clarinet our primary instrument should be fortunate to play 1/10 as well as he does..........
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