 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2004-12-19 00:22
I received my audition results for Massachusetts Southeast District and am very proud to announce that I have made 2nd part in the Southeast District Orchestra, with an All-State recommendation as well. This is a huge accomplishment for me, especially since it is a GIANT leap from where I was last year: 3rd part, 7th chair in the Concert Band. So, I'm happy and thank you all for your kind advice and comments you've always given me here on the board. I'm half-way to the goal I set last year: making All-State.
So, this will be my first experience with playing in an orchestra. I'm excited. Any suggestions or advice or anything to tell?
The one thing I am upset at, however, is the horrible selections we're playing. A commissioned work, "Wollaston Beach (A Pops Overture for Band)" by Gregory Fritze, "The Ascension" (from The Divine Comedy) by Robert W. Smith, which is actually concert band music transcribed for orchestra because it has become that popular and well-received, and "Choral and Finale" (from Die Meistersinger) by Richard Wagner. These selections aren't too great compared to last year's "Mars" and "Jupiter" from The Planets, and Dvorak's "Slavonic Dance No. 8". This is especially aggrivating when the Concert Band this year is playing "Overture to Candide", one of my favorites.
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2004-12-19 01:06
Congratulations. Bring an A. Just because you were screwed as far as music goes doesn't mean you should be disappointed! Make the most of it (I am saying this because of experience). District Band (we didn't have a district orchestra) my sophomore yr of HS, we played Apocolyptic Dreams (Gillingham) and October (Whitacre). We were all pretty bummed at first because of the little (and what at first seemed horrible) selection of music, but after the two days of rehearsing, we played the concert and I really loved it and, looking back at it now, it was one of the best district/state bands I've ever done. For states, make sure your chromatic is really nice, smooth, well articulated, and in tune. Other than that, prepared piece (if you have one) should be in good shape (obviously!), and sight reading...well, do a lot of that before the audition and you should be fine! States is almost ALWAYS better than district/regional/whatever band/orchestra. Make the best of the experiences because once they're gone, they're gone! If you make All-State Orchestra you could be in for a real treat. The one year that I did not audition during high school for all-state orchestra/band the orchestra played the suite from the Firebird (the WHOLE thing) and it was AMAZING (the recording). Anyway have fun and good luck at states.
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2004-12-19 01:10
Be careful what you wish for.....
After you make All-State (next year) they will probably announce that the program will be 100% a Harold Arlen / Mel Torme / Johnny Marks retrospective...
;-)
JDS
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2004-12-19 05:49
Luckily, I won't need an A clarinet, as all the parts are for Bb clarinet. Unluckily, I won't need an A clarinet, because they're just that much cooler.
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Author: Jen L.
Date: 2004-12-19 13:45
Just wanted to comment on the music you're playing: the Ascension is spectacularly cool. If you have a chance, and haven't heard it before, listen to the entire Divine Comedy, it's really worth it. *Before* you come to rehearsal--it's the type of music where it really helps to get to know it ahead of time.
Jen L.
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2004-12-19 20:00
Oh, I know, Jen...I didn't mean to put that one down. I have heard "The Ascension" and the entire Divine Comedy. It is without a doubt one of my favorite works. I'm just saying that I wish we could have done more of the classics and romantic/modern literature for orchestra. Or AT LEAST, we should have done the entire Symphony No. 1 "The Divine Comedy" instead of just one movement from it.
And I highly doubt I could make All-State Orchestra, just because there's only 3 spots usually. So, it's a disappointment that I don't get to play anything like Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" or Smetana's "The Moldau", but yeah, I'll still look forward to an exciting experience.
But the All-State piece is Weber's "Concertino" and I've got a pretty good handle on it, just needs some more work. Mostly articulation issues...grr.
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