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 Neilsen Clarinet Concerto
Author: Clarinetlover18 
Date:   2005-01-11 19:38

I have been listening to the Neilsen Clarinet Concerto, and thinking about maybe playing it. Or at least getting the music and study it. What does everyone think about it? How does everyone interpret it? Where do you start working on it ( i.e. beginning, middle, end?) Thanks everyone, your help is much appreciated!
[up] [grin]

Carla

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 Re: Nielsen Clarinet Concerto
Author: GBK 
Date:   2005-01-11 19:50

There are over 200 different postings about the Nielsen Concerto in the archives. Many insightful analysis and interpretive tips. It would benefit you to read many of them before beginning study.

There are also 2 excellent articles on the woodwind.org site:

http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Study/Nielsen.html


http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Study/NielsenNotes.html

...GBK

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 Re: Neilsen Clarinet Concerto
Author: diz 
Date:   2005-01-11 20:11

The only thing further I have to say about this work is that it's a shame Carl Neilsen didn't finish composing the three other concerti (oboe, bassoon and horn). He promised his friends in the Copenhagen Wind Quintet a concerto each, but only managed to write this one and the Flute Concerto.

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

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 Re: Neilsen Clarinet Concerto
Author: Robert Moody 
Date:   2005-01-11 20:52

I might suggest that if you sincerely do not know where to begin with it, then maybe you are not interested as much in the piece as the notes themselves. In that case, maybe the Uhl books would suffice for technical triumph? They are pretty straight foward in their mass of notes. [cool]

Sincerely, find the history of the piece and what Nielsen intended. Get a basic idea of the structure. Grasp any motivic ideas and spot how they are developed. From there, you may be ready to begin the piece. If things like this are not part of your routine of learning a new work (if the work indeed has any depth to discover), then you really are probably out to just conquer the notes or play it "because so-n-so did..." or "because everyone who is anyone has to play that piece...." These latter reasons have all been explored by myself and I can tell you, the former ones provide so much more reward.

Good luck. It is fun to learn and a bear to play well.

Take care,

Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!

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 Re: Neilsen Clarinet Concerto
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2005-01-11 21:06

Nielsen composed the Clarinet Concerto for Aage Oxenvad, who didn't record it. Fortunately, he did record the Quintet, which has been reissued. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000044CY/qid=1105479930/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5099665-9771009?v=glance&s=classical. He was a powerful player, with a resonant, rattling tone. Listening to him is a fine complement to the two excellent articles GBK mentions.

The recording by Cahuzac on the same CD is very musical, but, as tne Nelson article says, not close to Oxenvad's style or the Danish spirit. Drucker's recording is technically amazing, but, as Nelson says, not true to the style. I love the Stevensson recording http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002SFK/qid=1105480470/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5099665-9771009?v=glance&s=classical, and the Thomsen recording is also excellent http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000ALP/qid=1105480540/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/103-5099665-9771009?v=glance&s=classical.

As to mastering the notes -- just wade in. It's all difficult. Listen to it first, following along with the music. The solo part is only $5 at SheetMusicPlus, but there's so much going on in the orchestra (particularly the snare drum) that you simply must find the $50 or so for the piano reduction or full score. http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_fastresults.html?cart=33144515073436729.

One fingering problem is a long trill on clarion Bb. Play the Bb with the sliver key and trill with the two bottom side keys.

Everybody takes a shot at the Nielsen sooner or later. Have fun.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: Neilsen Clarinet Concerto
Author: fuglen 
Date:   2005-01-11 22:20

Ken Shaw wrote:

"The recording by Cahuzac on the same CD is very musical, but, as tne Nelson article says, not close to Oxenvad's style or the Danish spirit"

In further pursuit of the Danish spirit, allow me to recommend a CD with the danish clarinettist Arne Møller. The CD is a musical portrait of this fine player who served many years as the principal of the Danish Royal Philharmonic. It was released in 2004 celebrating his 85 years birthday.The 2cd-set includes a (not previously released) live recording of the Nielsen concerto from 1965. Arne Møller himself was a student of Aage Oxenvad and performed the concerto many times during his career. The recording is as live as it gets with people coughing allong with the orchestra. But it certainly displays some very fine clarinet playng, especially Møllers rapid double tonging in the clarinet/snaredrum section. This 2-CD-set is probarbly a little hard to find outside Denmark (ClassCd 115). I was particularly happy to find it (today actually), since Arne Møller was my own teacher from 1980-84.

www.peterfuglsang.com

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 Re: Neilsen Clarinet Concerto
Author: donald 
Date:   2005-01-12 01:15

wow, i'd love to hear the Arne Moller recording!
my comments on the Cahuzac recording.....
- the strength of this recording is in the interpretive interplay between the soloist and the orchestra. There are some moments where the two parts echo and then develop musical material in a way that suggests the conductor and clarinettist had worked together in-depth on interpretation.
....the Jack (John) McCaw recording is also very good, i've no comment how this sits as far as the "Danish tradition" is concerned. McCaw brings out the more "melancholic" side of the concerto, while being less "tempestuous" than Stevensson (my favourite)
now that this concerto is no longer the great technical challenge that it once was (though i'm not saying it's easy) we can more and more appreciate what great MUSIC there is for the performer to work with!
donald

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 Re: Neilsen Clarinet Concerto
Author: diz 
Date:   2005-01-12 01:57

The Hansen Edition (study score) is the superlative one ... easily available from your nearest sheet music supplier, the bigger stores should have it in stock.

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

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 Re: Neilsen Clarinet Concerto
Author: kchan 2017
Date:   2005-01-13 00:43

Looks like that Arne Møller can be found here (and purchased via paypal):

http://www.cdklassisk.dk/product_info.php/products_id/979



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 Re: Neilsen Clarinet Concerto
Author: fuglen 
Date:   2005-01-13 16:18

Thanks Kenwrick

The link also provides info about the other tracks on the CD. And while your at it... You can buy the Nielsen with with John Kruse (Another great dane :-)) through the same site.

www.peterfuglsang.com

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