 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2004-02-20 20:17
I am playing the Grand Canyon Suite with orchestra. I am really excited. Does anyone have any tips on playing this part?
- James
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-02-21 15:12
"Only" a couple of thousand feet, WM? I recall ?someone's? story of a bass cl tryout by Toscanini for the "On the Trail" part, where the winner figured out that Tos was somewhat deaf [down low], so he played it very loud and won!! Any truth to it?? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ben
Date: 2004-02-21 21:07
Interesting if true...I remember reading that Toscanini began in music as a cellist.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2004-02-22 23:26
The last time our orchestra played GCS, the upper portion of the bass clarinet solo was played by the principal soprano clarinetist at the insistance of our conductor. His comment, "Groffe is a good composer, but he is a poor orchestrator".
(none of us were in any position to disagree)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jerry McD.
Date: 2004-02-23 02:37
Beg the oboist and conductor to not accelerando toooooo much before the bass entrance in 'On the Trail'
Jerry McD.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-02-23 05:21
William, I would argue strongly with that conductor. My personal opinion: Grofe was a superb arranger, but his compositional skills were not as wonderful. Hey, Grofe *taught* orchestration -- at Juilliard, no less. Did your conductor perhaps teach conducting at some comparable institution?
To me, GCS was the pinnacle of his writing... and almost the only thing he wrote which is nowadays still often performed.
Regards,
John
who might have been fired, but wouldn't want to play anyway under someone like that
Post Edited (2004-02-23 05:24)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2004-02-25 06:16
His name is Ferdy, right? Is that short for Ferdinand?
When I was a kid (50's) is seemed we heard this all the time. Didn't Walt Disney produce a film to the music. Now when I hear it, it really does seem to be a great piece of music. And I just bougtht a bass cl mouthpiece. I hope this is in my future.
W
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-02-25 06:43
Spelled Ferde, and I think that was it. And Wayne, I share your memory of the Disney short film featuring GCS.
Regards,
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-02-25 19:07
I'm quite sure Ferde is correct. Haven't found him in my [home] dictionaries or [symp] music books, need to look in Groves Dict. He prob. wrote more than GCS and Mississippi Suite that I have played, look him up on the 'net and report, please. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-02-25 22:18
Ferde Grofe' was mainly known as the arranger for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra (a very popular 'semi-jazz' big band of the 20's/30's) --- it may be that the two Suites mentioned were Grofe's only published classical works.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-02-26 03:28
Ferde is correct, whatever "correct" means. I just don't know if there was a longer version of his given name. Don't think so.
He was known for a varied career, also wrote "Death Valley Suite," (which is somewhat reminiscent of GCS), some other stuff rarely heard. I seem to appreciate weird musicians (does that tell you anything?) such as Grofe and Oscar Levant. Like Levant, Grofe also worked as a saloon piano player. But while Levant spent time as a Broadway player and conductor, Grofe was a violinist with the Los Angeles Symphony. Big early difference was that Grofe had run away from home when barely a teen-ager and worked in manual jobs for some years before becoming a professional player and chartsman.
I recall that the really big-time chart of Rhapsody in Blue was done by Grofe for Paul Whiteman. Grofe was a brilliant arranger (although obviously not everyone agrees).
I credit Grofe as one of the leading orchestrators of the twentieth century (right up there with John Williams). Grofe's composition was rather straightforward. He avoided complex melodies and unusual progressions, offering few surprises except those driven from the orchestration. "On the Trail," perhaps Grofe's best-known composition, has a very simple melody. Its appeal is strong due to its clever and varied orchestration techniques. MOO, YMMV.
Regards,
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2004-02-26 04:16
Ferde Grofé was born Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofé ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-02-26 04:33
Yhanks, GBK. You have closed yet another gap in my knowledge.
Regards,
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-02-26 19:43
Keerect, GBK, I looked and he was not listed in Groves !! [our library], but found a fine bio in "Popular American Composers" [didn't record author tho!, sorry]. Checked a few sheet music sellers, and found a few orchestrated pieces, Andalucia by Lecouna [sp?] , Show Boat by Kern [Mississippi Suite?]. Many more "Suites" etc are listed in Pop AM Comp, whether compositions per se, or good orchestrations wasn't defined. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2004-02-26 21:49
I think the comparison of Grofe with John Williams is quite apropriate.....wouldn't have thought of that myself
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
