 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2003-10-12 17:36
I just played Paul Dukas's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and since I don't have a recording of it I just wonder if someone could check theirs to see what tempo they play. To my taste it shuld be played 3/8, 1 in a bar about 100-104/min. We played it in 116-120/min. and it was a bit fast. Not only because it's getting very difficult but also I like to have the theme quite layed back in style. 104/min: Tum-ti tum-ti ta ta ta tum-ti tum-ti ta ta ta...etc.
Alphie
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Author: Joel Clifton
Date: 2003-10-12 20:44
You mean the first enterance of the theme, with the bassoon solo? My recording goes just barely under 120, and it sounds right to me.
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2003-10-12 20:53
Yes, I mean the famous theme where the bassoon starts. Barely under 120. Interesting. To my taste it feels fast but maybe that's standard. Thanks Joel.
Alphie
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-10-13 01:40
Alphie ... the clarinet part is a breeze when you compare it to the first violins horrendous string crossing nightmare in the development section.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-10-13 02:53
Diz...The first clarinet is extremely difficult. I know more than a few working pros who have faked their way through the nasty descending arpeggios. Even with a few trick fingerings, it still presents a formidable challenge.
The rapidly tongued sextuplets at the end of the piece are basically unplayable as written...GBK
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-10-13 03:13
As to tempo, I think that this piece is often played too fast (not just because the clarinet part is so difficult). I also like the bassoon theme to settle in and not sound rushed. There is plenty of opportunity to increase the tempo later in the piece.
I think that Abe Galper (?) once wrote that supposedly Dukas wouldn't talk to Toscanini because he conducted the piece much too rapidly ...GBK
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-10-13 03:22
GBK - you're right (of course) just looked my mini-score up again. Dukas is need of a slap over the head for that ... the wind writting is ugly and unplayable (as are the string parts) ... not to mention what the glockenspiel is expected to do ... the mind boggles.
Also ... Toscanini probably did it fast so he didn't miss the Staten Island Ferry? Either that, or to vex the orchestra.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
Post Edited (2003-10-13 03:28)
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Author: David
Date: 2003-10-13 10:43
If you want really ugly, a concert band arrangement will do the trick.
I reckon the fast tempi are to get it over before the audience have got the padlocks off the fire exits.
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Author: ken
Date: 2003-10-13 19:27
David wrote: "if you want really ugly, a concert band arrangement will do the trick."
--No lie; I had a Solo Bb Clarinet transcription of the Dukas stuck under my nose once at a U.S. Air Force Academy Band audition. To say it was a humbling experience struggling through it is the understatement of the year. Afterwards, I recall jokingly telling the committee "I'd gladly sight transpose the "Le Coq d'Or" cadenza down a minor 3rd than hack through this!" v/r Ken
Post Edited (2003-10-13 19:28)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2003-10-13 21:23
Even Marcel Tabuteau, the famous oboist, admitted that he couldn't play the part for the SA. It is essentially unplayable in one section for the oboe. Glen Johnston, a fine clarinetist, claimed that "the copyist got this one wrong!"
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