 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Ben
Date: 2004-01-25 03:27
I am not aware of there being any good bass clarinet concertos yet written. Assuming this is correct, why is this? Is it more a matter of:
a) Lack of interest by composers
b) Lack of people interested in commissioning/performing such a work
c) Some general perception of the instrument being ill suited to a soloist role
If there are now good concertos for the saxophone, tuba, and English horn, surely the bass clarinet should be just as deserving!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2004-01-25 03:36
We can't wait on the composers. Grab one that was written for soprano clarinet, tenor sax or even cello and play it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-01-25 05:45
Don't know, good question, I'm working on a concerto grosso for Basset Clarinet at present. Does that count?
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
Post Edited (2004-01-25 05:46)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2004-01-25 17:24
There is a local amature composer working on a bass clarinet concerto for me. Actually, he is writting it to keep me from constantly asking, "Why dopn't you write a concerto for my new bass clarinet?" So far, I havn't seen any actual notes, but I'll let y'all know when he shows me what he came up with. Nevertheless, regardless of its' eventual musical quality, I have promised to "premier" it with our local Madison Wind Ensemble as a reward for its' creation.
Actually, that was a real concern of his--like, "Why should I write it if it will never be played?" And perhaps this is another reason why more works for the less traditional solo instruments are never artistically conceived in the first place. Just a thought............
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: harpovitovandoren
Date: 2004-01-25 18:17
Hi Ben,
In Feb. 2003 Dick Page, principal bass clarinetist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performed the world premier of Ezra Laderman's Concerto for Bass Clarinet and Orchestra. Bass clarinet players from all over the planet were in attendence. Work was commissioned by PSO. It's a technically demanding piece encompassing the entire range of the horn. I really enjoyed the work - it was the first time I had ever heard the bass live w/orchestra. I had the opportunity to visit Dick the previous summer - a very personable and of course impeccable gentleman. A walking clarinet encyclopedia.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2004-01-25 18:42
Anthony Ritchie has written a concerto for Bass Clarinet and Cello. Very beautiful music- has been recorded by the Auckland Chamber orchestra with Andrew Uren and Katherine Hebly playing. Some people may have seen Andrew playing Bass Clarinet at Clarinetfest 2000 (with Solaris Trio), he is a virtuoso, no question.
this is a great piece (the Ritchie concerto)... if you have a friend who plays the cello...
donald
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ben
Date: 2004-01-25 23:13
Donald,
I was unfamiliar with Anthony Ritchie, so I listened to parts of his flute concerto on Amazon... wow, what great music! Do you know where one can obtain a copy of the recording you mentioned?
It's always nice to learn of another fine composer.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2004-01-26 00:03
Thea Musgrave has a clarinet concerto. It was written for Victoria Soames and is recorded on Clarinet Classic label. I've listened to it once, and it's okay. I'm sure it will grow on me if I listen to it with more attention.
Don Hite
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
PS - I composed a bass clarinet sonata (not concerto, but still..) and had it performed by my clarinet teacher, who is the bass clarinetist in the Houston Ballet. This is a neglected instrument, I Think, but I'm doing my part!!! heehee
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2004-01-26 01:48
I don't think Thea Musgrave's clarinet concerto was written for Victoria Soames. It was actually commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1968. Gervase de Peyer gave the world premier performance and Michele Zukovsky gave the U.S. premier. De Peyer recorded the concerto for Argo records.
The piece written for Victoria Soames was actually the "Autumn Sonata" mentioned by GBK above. Someone who likes the Musgrave concerto (or the Cowie or Corigliano concertos, for that matter), will probably like the Autumn Sonata. It is distinctly modern. I believe the Clarinet Classics recording is actually licensed from CALA.
Another bass clarinet concerto that no one has yet mentioned is the concerto by Dietrich Erdmann. This has been recorded by Renate Rusche. While also modern in its language, it is, to my ear, quite lyrical. IMO, it is a fine work for the instrument. Personally, I would rather work on it than the Musgrave but YMMV.
Henri Bok's website mentions a concerto by Stefan Heucke. I don't know anything about it. Harry Sparnaay has recorded at least two works for bass clarinet and orchestra. One is "Incantations" by Theo Loevandie whose clarinet concerto received a premier performance by the Concertgebeow this past year. (It was on a web broadcast.)
Joseph Horak and his partner in the Due Boemi di Praga (bass clarinet and piano), are responsible for many works for that combination. I have recordings of works for bass clarinet, piano and orchestra by Felix, Flossman, Lucky and Stedron. There are likely more. Friday, several recordings showed up on my doorstep, including Gavin Bryars' "By the Vaar" for double bass, bass clarinet, percussion and strings and Aaron Rabushka's concerto for clarinet, bass clarinet (Joseph Horak, again) and chamber orchestra. I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet.
There are some good works for bass clarinet and orchestra out there but they are sometimes hard to find. I can't think of any written prior to around 1950 though there may be some (perhaps Russian?). "Modern" contemporary composers seem drawn to to the bass clarinet's timbre and the most prominent advocates for the instrument (including Soames, Rusche, Bok, Sparrnay, Horak, Marty Walker, Michael Lowenstern, Roger Heaton, Ian Mitchell, and others I have overlooked) appear to be drawn toward modern repertoire.
Best regards.
jnk
Post Edited (2004-01-26 18:29)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2004-01-26 03:58
"Autumn Sonata" is a Bass Clarinet Concerto commissioned by Soames in 1993, and this is the piece I meant ( I said "clarinet concerto" by mistake). I'm not sure why it's called Autumn Sonata, the full name (as given in the CD booklet) is "Autumn Sonata - Concerto for Bass Clarinet and Orchestra".
Sorry for the confusion
Don Hite
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CPW
Date: 2004-01-26 04:05
The Ladderman concerto just played on the NPR station that carries the Pittsburgh S. Orch.
Interesting work, but certainly not to everyone's taste.
Doesnt anyone write nice lyrical...hummable...works anymore??
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: msloss
Date: 2004-01-26 12:45
"Circles in the Fire" by Amnon Wolman for Bass Clar and tape (very contemporary)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2004-01-27 01:14
The late Luciano Berio wrote a piece called Chemins IIc for Bass Clarinet and orchestra.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
