 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: studioline
Date: 2003-08-25 14:09
Hello there folks,
Has anyone any suggestions of a really good, short and vibrant piece to start off a recital. No more than 5 minutes at the max(preferably about 3mins). Program not yet cofirmed but think I'll also do Poulenc Sonata, Horovitz Sonatina, and maybe Baermann Adagio, or Martinu Sonatina or Milhaud Duo Concertant...just can't decide. Any suggestions would be great cheers!
www.stuarteminson.com
Post Edited (2003-08-25 14:10)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ken
Date: 2003-08-25 17:25
The Finale from the Szalowski Sonatina (mvt III) at 160+ is under 3:00 and will for sure get the place fired up.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-08-25 18:49
Some suggestions (while many are longer, maybe you could play one movement):
1.Malcolm Arnold Sonatina, last movement is rythmically driving and really fun
2.Honegger Sonatine (last mov. is 1 minute and really "vibrant")
3.While maybe not extremely flashy by everyone's standards, I think the 4th mov of Arnold Cooke Sonata is very good and about 3 minutes...
4.Lutoslawksi Dance Preludes (1st and last movements might work well for what you need)
5.I like the last mov. of Hurlstone's "4 Characteristic Pieces"... it isn't all that technically flashy (although it's certainly not easy), but it's got a nice drive and and would be a nice attention grabber, I think
I'll post more suggestions if I think of more...
Don Hite --> theclarinetist@yahoo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ella
Date: 2003-08-25 19:59
You might want to consider the Solo de Concours by Rabaud. It's about a five minute piece, it's roving and conveys many different moods without being half as dramatic as the Weber Concertino. It's a lovely piece!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-08-26 03:54
Try a solo clarinet piece. The two shorter ones I know are the Stravinsky Three Pieces and the Sutermeister Capriccio.
They're both neato keen!
Katrina
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: studioline
Date: 2003-08-26 03:54
thanks for all your suggestions, I was hoping to find something which wasn't a movement of a sonata or what ever though. It's pretty hard to think of a short attention grabber that is a piece of it's own...
I don't know the Szalowski, sounds appealing to find something new. Never even heard of the composer! Is he of this century?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-08-26 04:15
I hate to be a nay-sayer, but I would NEVER open a recital with the Stravinsky if my goal is to get people's attention. I would wager to say that very few people (unless they're die hard music fans or clarinetists) would be anything but bored-to-tears by the first movement. The other 2 movements are more "flashy" but they certainly aren't the kind of thing that will get most people's attention...
Just as a disclaimer, I'm not bashing the piece, but be realistic!!! Play something exciting and fun that everyone will relate to and like. Squeeze the Stravinsky in (if you were to do it) someplace in the middle to give the pianist a break! Just my utilitarian viewpoint, I suppose.
Don Hite
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2003-08-26 04:53
If you have the technique, the Bozza Bucolique will get you off to a roaring start.
If you want to draw the audience in with some beautifully written clarinet lines, then explore the Burgmuller Duo for Klarinette und Klavier ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tom A
Date: 2003-08-26 11:01
Ever heard/of Clarinetto Con Moto by Frederick Curzon? Composed for Reginald Kell, and published by B & H. It sounds like a real finger bender, but it's actually quite playable as long as you're good at D minor scales and their various permutations! It comes in at around 2 1/2 minutes.
Post Edited (2003-08-26 11:04)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-08-26 11:48
Don wrote: "I hate to be a nay-sayer, but I would NEVER open a recital with the Stravinsky if my goal is to get people's attention. I would wager to say that very few people (unless they're die hard music fans or clarinetists) would be anything but bored-to-tears by the first movement."
I've opened more than one recital with the Stavinsky 3 pieces. I find that the first movement can have an immense amount of tension and completely draw the audience in. Pieces don't have to be flashy to get people's attention. Think about the opening to the Rite of Spring.
It's like acting- an actor doesn't have to walk on stage and start shouting to get the attention of the public. Some of the best actors I've seen have such a presence from just being on stage. If they start talking quietly, or even whispering, it can have a huge impact on the audience. The first of Stravinsky's 3 pieces is so haunting. Just a solitary clarinetist playing quietly in the centre of the stage. Stravinsky really knew what he was doing! The boring versions that I've heard of the first of Stravinsky's 3 pieces were played too loud and too slow.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: studioline
Date: 2003-08-26 12:13
Again thank you all very much.
I don't know the Bozza Bucolique, how long is this? Around 3 minutes? Certainly look into that....
I also don't know Clarinetto Con Moto by Frederick Curzon which may be another option.
Regarding the Stravinsky, My initial thoughts were that I would definitely not start a recital with a solo piece, be it stravinsky or anything else. However, having read Liquorice post just above, I REALLY got a sense of what you were saying, and could feel the "pulling power"(!) of that slow movement. hmmmmm my options seem endless now!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: studioline
Date: 2003-08-26 12:39
I've just ordered the clarinetto con moto by Curzon, and the Bozza Bucolique!! Actually I've also ordered caprice-improvisation by Bozza too, anyone know that?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-08-26 17:12
Don,
What Liquorice said!
I have opened recitals with the Stravinsky. It works well if you play it well.
I can't imagine "boring" anyone to tears much less at all with the opening piece. I think it is beautifully written, with quite an opportunity to make a statement. Statements don't have to be loud, just stated.
I have opened every recital I have ever given with a solo piece. I like the way that I can present MYSELF, and not a "chamber" type work to the audience first...
Katrina
Post Edited (2003-08-26 22:08)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-08-26 23:22
With all due respect, I understand the intended effect of the Stravinsky. I also understand the intent of atonol and serial music. Both can all be very engaging if you are in the mood(I'm not comparing the Stravinsky to serial music, only that they both are a bit hard to take if your not used to their respective compositional styles)... However, I personally believe that most people's attention is more easily gotten with something beautiful and more approachable than the Stravinsky. If played incredibly, it is very interesting, but the first movement very easily gets lost in itself and becomes tedious (and all pretense aside, who can't understand where I'm coming from whether you agree or not?)
Start with Stravinsky if you want, it's a great piece, but it's not a vibrant piece that really gets people to say "wow" (in my opinion)... it might get them to say "what the heck was that?!?!", unless they're clarinetists or die-hard music people who would easily get into the piece.
As far as the Bucolique, it's by far my favorite clarinet piece! I don't think you get more vibrant and brilliant than that. However, it is 8-9 minutes long.
ONE OTHER SUGGESTION: I've started recitals like this and I find it very effective. I like to start recitals with a duet. They are usually pretty short (there are a variety under 5 minutes). It's fun to incorporate another clarinetist into your recital, plus (BEST OF ALL) it gives you the opportunity to warm up on stage and get used to the hall without being completely exposed. It's sort of a wimpy approach, but you can test the water and make sure you're warmed up and get some of the nerves out before playing a tough piece like Bucolique. Now that I think about it, the stravinsky would be a great way to start the second half (if you have an intermission). I personally just like to start with someone easier to listen to. I think it works better. Save the big guns for later = )
DHite - theclarinetist@yahoo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DAVE
Date: 2003-08-27 03:47
Try Studio Primo by Donetzetti pretty easy to play and listen to.
OR
Canzonetta by Gabriel Pierne; another nice and short piece.
I like the idea of starting a recital with a short easy to listen to piece. I agree with the idea above that Stravinsky would not be the best choice, but only as an opener; the Stravinsky is a great piece to program as long as it is somewhere else in my opinion. I would also not recomend the Buccolique for the reason that it is just too showy and it is HARD and it always sounds like it should be at the end to me. There is maybe no worse feeling than to start off your recital with an impossible piece that dosen't go as well as you would have liked knowing that you have to return to the stage to continue and play the remaining 3 or 4 impossible pieces. I say ease into it and finish big.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2003-08-27 04:04
DAVE said:
> I would also not recomend the Buccolique for the reason that it is just too showy and it is > HARD and it always sounds like it should be at the end to me.
Clarinetfest- July 12, 1995
Ricardo Morales opening recital:
Bozza - Bucolique
Schmitt - Andantino
Widor - Introduction and Rondo
Saint-Saëns - Sonata
Messager - Solo de concours
encore selection: Verdi - La Forza del Destino
Actually, I just relistened to the entire tape tonight. It was even more impressive then I remember it live in Arizona....
Then again, all of Morales' performances leave me speechless...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-08-27 04:44
GBK,
Your point is well made, but how many of us could walk out onto stage and perform a flawless Bucolique right at the start? I'm sure there are a handful of clarinetists how could start with any piece and nail it, but (I would venture to say) most of us should be a little more cautious...
No offense to the original poster. You may very well be good enough to start with Bucolique (though I say it far exceeds your time requirement). I'm working on the Bucolique, and I can play it quite well (and I'm so modest), but I would not feel comfortable starting with something that difficult. It's not so much a programming issue as a matter of "easing into the performance", as Dave said.
Don Hite - theclarinetist@yahoo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob49t
Date: 2003-08-27 06:48
? No thoughts of playing an unaccompanied study such as Paul Harvey's play on Gershwin's " It ain't necessarily so".
This is a piece often played as an encore, but would be equally stunning as an opener. It's gymnastic, conversational and broody - all you'd wish as a starter !
Just walk on and play it, then introduce the concert !
Can be heard on Emma Johnson's "Encores" CD
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-08-27 14:24
Try Peter Maxwell Davies the Seven Brightnesses for letting them have it!
David Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: studioline
Date: 2003-08-27 14:34
WOW THIS IS SO INTERESTING.....Thanks again to all you people, keep the suggestions rolling, should be getting the Bucolique in the post tomorrow along with Caprice-Improvisation by Bozza (anyone know that?) So will let you know what I think.
8-9 mins is a bit long for what I was thinking but there's no problem with the time I have. Was just thinking would be nice to start with something more brief as an introduction.
The Paul Harvey Gershwin etudes are fun, but do feel a little contrived perhaps. Although that's another nice idea, at least the audience would hopefully recognise the theme. Hmmm.
It's just a lunchtime concert, so about 40-45 minutes at the most.
How does this sound:
1) Maybe a suggested piece from these posts
2) Poulenc Sonata
3) Either Martinu Sonatina or a short lighter piece like Ravel's Habernera or Baermann's Adagio(or both) followed by a short piano solo(by my pianist)
4) finish off with Horovitz Sonata
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ken
Date: 2003-08-27 17:41
--My apology studioline, I have a bad habit of assuming a standard clarinet work to me is standard to everyone. Antoni Szalowski (1907-1973) wrote the 3-mvt. Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano in 1936, (the same year he became president of the Association of Young Polish Musicians in Paris). The piece was dedicated to Ludwik Kurkiewicz.
The 3rd mvt. "Finale" can be stylistically compared, and a close cousin to the Penderecki, “Three Miniatures” and Lutoslawski, “Dance Preludes”. It is a well-written and very exciting "jack in the box wind-up" short that contains all the best qualities of a great barnburner. It has vocal-styled melodies, driving compound rhythms, harmonic tension (9ths, 11ths and 13ths interval leaps) and even a clever touch of jazz chromatics and sideslipping. It’s rated at grade 7 however from what I recall it plays more like a challenging 5...although it does have its share of finger-twisting riffs.
Recordings of the piece are floating around but disputedly for a standard, uncommon. I’d be happy to burn you a 3rd mvt. complimentary copy of my rendition, however, I’m certain with a little digging you could score one with a more notable soloist and useful reference. In any case, the chart is worth looking into and really should be a part of every serious clarinet players's personal library. v/r Ken
Here’s a link for a Chester Publication in print copy:
[http://www.musicroom.com/details.ihtml?ID_No=0012544&referer=45812]
Post Edited (2003-08-28 21:33)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: studioline
Date: 2003-08-27 18:02
Ken wrote:
the chart is worth looking into
sorry, it's probably perfectly obvious, but what do you mean the chart?
Studioline
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Renato
Date: 2003-09-22 16:50
How about Finzi's Bagatelle? (#5 if memory serves)
It's short, vibrant and, I believe, not too hard.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2003-09-22 17:01
Try the Penderecki Three Miniatures. Great fun, but needs a good pianist.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-09-22 18:19
Maybe try composing a piece , and then at least you know exactly what you want to say!
David Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
