 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2004-06-23 12:18
Hey guys. I have an orchestral excerpt + Mozart Concerto exam on Friday this week. Like alot of people I don't think I'll ever be happy with the way I'm playing Mozart, but I'm pretty happy with my excerpts one of which is the Firebird variation. I did this excerpt earlier in the year as part of my traineeship with the state orchestra, but I never wrote down a tempo. The marking is dotted crotchet (dotted quarter note) = 76 which is just insane. I haven't heard any recordings which take it at this speed. I'm am just wondering what you professional orchestral players regard as a common, safe tempo. If I go past 66 it isn't very clean. Is 66 acceptable?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-06-23 13:17
Be aware that Stravinsky was one composer who was fairly meticulous with his markings (except when Chester would blunder in the copying), thus I would try to strive for the written tempo of dotted quarter = 76.
The Bernstein/Israel Philharmonic recording is very close, if not precisely, at mm = 76.
That being said, you should only play it as fast as you can play cleanly. Slightly under mm=76 played cleanly is a lot better than mm = 76 played sloppy.
Just curious - How are you solving the infamous misprinted measure 21 (one measure before rehearsal #14)? ...GBK
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2004-06-23 14:37
Well for the last audition they didn't ask me to play that bit .. (the flute bit mistakinly put in the clarinet part right?) I could play it, but I didn't have a clue where it fits in. It was on a seperate piece of paper so I was going to just play it seperately but they didnt ask. As for this audition/exam it isn't on the score I have to play off. So Im not doing it haha.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-06-23 18:48
Dear Aussie Nick..
As to the tempi I would certainly give the 76 per beat as the slowest possible for a successful audition...
I think it is certainly managelable and may be easier if played quicker,
but only if you use different altissimo fingerings...
there are alot of optional high note fingerings which Mr. Ridenour gives in his book as well as some you can even make up yourself provided you have a sensitive ear to pitch nuance...
I would also say that no matter the tempo the playing should be clean
David Dow
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2004-06-23 21:07
GBK wrote: "Be aware that Stravinsky was one composer who was fairly meticulous with his markings"
...except when conducting his own works. For an example, compare his written metronome marks with his own tempi in his recording of the Octet. They are VERY different!
Aussie Nick- I would suggest playing it at the fastest tempo at which you can play it cleanly. No jury will be impressed if you play play it quickly but inaccurately. All the best.
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2004-06-24 00:57
I can play the first page cleanly at about 69-72. It is when I get to bar 34, the various quintuplet runs from clarion C up to altissimo G and then the runs from throat G# up to altissimo F# that I find I can't put it past 66 or 69. I feel myself struggling to keep with the beat and I ever so slightly fall behind on the transition into bar 36 from 35. Anyway I have probably confused you all now. Thanks for the advice.
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2004-06-25 01:23
Szell did not do it at 76; more like 70-72. Don't worry about it. Just play it clean and in tune.
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