 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-11-26 23:42
Was watching "Dr Who" last night (ABC TV 6pm). The current set of episodes is set in ancient Rome (most amusing). However, I note that the the series' orchestra had the use of a contrabass clarinet and it is used marvellously ... tune in, tonight, it's a seriously silly show (especially these very early B&W episodes).
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-11-27 00:40
Also, Christmas time is coming, which means undoubtedly we'll all be watching "A Christmas Story" starring the one and only little Ralphie. All he wants is a Red Rider BB-Gun.
And when I saw it last (a few days ago), I noticed the use of clarinet and bass clarinet in it. And the music for it, GENIUS! All the little diddles and solos here and there help to really create that goofy mood of the movie. If you haven't noticed, you may want to pay attention Dec. 24th when TNT plays it for 24 hours straight (or is it TBS? I never could remember)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-11-27 04:33
I've played contra-bass and contra-alto clarinet on quite a few films over the years. Many film composers like the low woodwinds for their special sounds. Elliot Goldenthal used us in "Interview with a Vampire" very effectively on contra-bass & alto. Carter Burwell, Michael Kamen, Michael Small, and Howard Shore have all written for the contra, in their own unique ways. It's great to play those big beasts every now and then!
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2003-11-27 07:52
Diz, I wonder if it's the same contrabass I know from a Goon Show. If Milligan was right, then the Beeb probably couldn't afford more than one.
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Author: David
Date: 2003-11-27 13:10
Don't quote me, but back in them days, I believe that Paul Harvey was the main man over here for single-figure Hertz playing.
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-11-27 21:48
John J Moses:
Intriguingly, the contra bass/alto(s) seem to be neglected in broadway orchestras (not that I'm an expert on the entire repertoire). The Sydney Symphony certainly owns one and use it very occasionally ... most notably was a wonderful CD recording they made (for ABC Classics) of Messean's incredibly beautiful "Illuminations of the Beyond" ... sorry, can't remember the French title of the work, their (exiting) maestro Edo de Waart also performed this work in the last year, much to my vexation it wasn't recorded (quite obviously two recordings of the one work by the same orchestra on the ABC Classics label is not going to happen) - sigh.
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-11-28 05:29
Hi Diz:
I'm afraid you haven't looked down into enough Broadway pits these days, I guess it's a long drive from Sidney:
I played contra on "1600 Pennsylvania Ave" and "On the 20th Century" in the late 1970s, in "Big" in the 1980s, in "Titanic" in the 1990s, and it's in the pit at the current run of "The Producers." Broadway uses the big beast a lot. There are several shows each season that force us to get behind that friendly thing to make some strange sounds the composers and orchestrators like to hear. I hope they continue to write for contra for a long time to come.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-12-01 23:37
thanks - John J. Moses: can you recommend any (commercial) recordings of shows where the part is recogniseable and prominant?
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-12-01 23:54
Hi Diz:
You asked: "can you recommend any (commercial) recordings of shows where the part is recogniseable and prominant?"
Just a few stand out that I have done. There must be many more out there with good contra parts that I'm not aware of.
Mine include:
(Broadway Cast CDs)
"BIG"
"GRIND"
"THE RINK"
"TITANIC" (contra not recorded)
(Hollywood Films)
"Interview with a Vampire"
"Lethal Weapon 3"
"Mission to Mars"
Don't rush out and buy these beauties(?), some are real losers, but the contra was fun to play anyway.
Good luck,
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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