Woodwind.OrgThe Clarinet BBoardThe C4 standard

 
  BBoard Equipment Study Resources Music General    
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 
 playing in church
Author: clarinet713 
Date:   2003-11-27 20:48

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving!

I have been asked to play in a church service this Sunday (solo clarinet, no piano, nothing) and I have no idea what to play......any suggestions? I feel kind of odd playing solo because usually in church services there is piano accompaniment with an instrumental soloist.

Thanks

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: jo.clarinet 
Date:   2003-11-27 21:12

Hi clarinet713!
What solo clarinet pieces do you have? Or you could play the melody line of something well-known, which would probably go down well with the congregation. Have a look through some of your old music - you'll be more confident, especially if it's unaccompanied, if it's something that you find very easy, cos then you can concentrate on playing really beautifully rather than thinking about notes!
Best of luck for Sunday,
Jo

Joanna Brown

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: Neil 
Date:   2003-11-27 21:24

"Amazing Grace" and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" sound pretty good on a clarinet.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: diz 
Date:   2003-11-27 21:57

"Send in the Clowns?" probably not very appropriate, difficult thing to do in all seriousness as you don't have any accompaniment ... is the organist/keyboard player going to be there?

Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.

Post Edited (2003-11-27 21:58)

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: Lisa 
Date:   2003-11-27 22:43

I agree with those that said to play a hymn. If you know "Holy Ground," that would be my two cents' worth.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: clarinet713 
Date:   2003-11-27 23:00

The keyboard player will be there (piano) but she hates playing piano and doesn't do well with such short notice...I have a lot of 20th century solo music but I don't think Stravinsky or Martino would be very appropriate for church :)

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: Bob A 
Date:   2003-11-27 23:25

What form of Service? Traditional, Contemporary, Pentacostal???
Sunday is the First Sunday in Advent. You might look in your Hymnal for "He Touched Me!" Play it straight the first time through then, the szecond time, with your own embelishments. If you live the verse you can play the music!
Bob A

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: Jim E. 
Date:   2003-11-28 05:20

Nothing wrong with "Amazing Grace" either straight, or with improvisiation.

THE advent hymn is "Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel" which would sound great on the clarinet, but make it real smooth (OK legato) and light, and be sure the pastor hasn't chosen it to be sung in that service.

Other church type music:

Mallotte "Our Father"

Schubert "Ave Maria" (often not used in protestant churches because of it's "Mary" text, but is a Catholic favorite)

Franck "Panis Angelicus" (a strange text in Lation, usually greatly changed in English, but more familiar to Catholics)

Debussy "Reverie"

Mozart K622 Movement 2, but you need accompianment

There were some threads on this a long time ago, try searching church music or wedding music etc.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: Rick Williams 
Date:   2003-11-28 09:45

Hi:
Since your playing solo, you could look at Ave Maria. Most any music store should have the soprano vocal music for it. Another lovely and not often heard piece is "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" aka the US Navy Hymn.

Best
Rick

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: Rev. Avery 
Date:   2003-11-28 10:03

Something that touches you personally. And something that the congregation will readily recognize. That way it's meaningful to both you and them.

Hope it goes well :)



Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: clarinetwife 
Date:   2003-11-28 13:22

Plainsong or chant works well for occasions when you don't have accompaniment, especially during Advent. O Come O Come Emmanuel comes to mind. Depends a bit on the atmosphere and character of the church as well.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: john gibson 
Date:   2003-11-28 19:49

Stranger on the Shore?

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: Jack Kissinger 
Date:   2003-11-28 22:08

If the keyboard player is an organist and she has accompanied some sections of the Messiah in the past, you might try "And He Shall Feed His Flock" from that work. You play the alto and soprano solos and she plays the accompaniment on the organ or keyboard. (You can also do it without accompaniment.)

Best regards,
jnk



Post Edited (2003-11-28 22:12)

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: clarinet713 
Date:   2003-11-29 04:37

Thank you all for your suggestions, I appreciate the help. I still haven't decided what I am playing but I still have a day to figure something out...hope it's not snowing where you are!!!!!!

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: lycfmtkl 
Date:   2003-11-29 14:18

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring " by JS Bach is a very good single piece to play in the church !

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2003-11-29 16:51

If I were asked to play in front of a congregation, I would probably play something very well known like the suggestions above. I also would play very little improv (just sort of play around the melody so they can still recognize the melody, but do some fancy turns or jumps here and there). I'd also be tempted to put a little vibrato in there (what do you guys think of THAT!)

US Army Japan Band

Reply To Message
 
 Re: playing in church
Author: Mike Blinn 
Date:   2003-12-01 02:36

This Christmas, my community band is playing O Holy Night, by Adolphe Charles Adam.

It has a beautiful melody, and would be appropriate for a church solo on the clarinet.

Reply To Message
 Avail. Forums  |  Threaded View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 


 Avail. Forums  |  Need a Login? Register Here 
 User Login
 User Name:
 Password:
 Remember my login:
   
 Forgot Your Password?
Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile.
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org