 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: claclaws
Date: 2005-06-22 23:42
Today I listened to Spohr clarinet concerto No.1 with a totally new ear and perspective. To be frank, I've NEVER heard about this composer in my pre-clarinet life. Quite comparable to Mozart's to my ears, this piece seems like a sublime concerto for clarinet.
In that context, I've never seen (or perhaps didn't notice) any local orchestras performing this concerto. In your countries, how many times major orchestras give clarinet concertos? And how is the decision made?
Only by the conductor? For that matter how do orchestras make decision on the repertoire? Who's responsible for that? Do members(instrument players) have a say too?
Lucy Lee Jang
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-23 00:19
claclaws wrote:
> Today I listened to Spohr clarinet concerto No.1...
> In that context, I've never seen (or perhaps didn't notice) any
> local orchestras performing this concerto.
Romantic era works, whether in the form of symphonies, overtures or concertos are the staple of the orchestral literature and in turn sell the most tickets. Few orchestras are brave enough to program a concert without a "big ticket" work - usually from the Romantic era. Those that do are always hesitant about their ability to fill the house. More than one major orchestra has had financial trouble by feeding their audience a steady diet of 20th century works.
The clarinet, has a big gap in the Romantic era concerto repertoire, thus exacerbating the problem of the lack of clarinet performances with major orchestras. (and there are only so many times in a three year period an orchestra can program the Mozart Concerto). The other major clarinet concerti (Weber, Spohr, etc...), while certainly enjoyable to listen to (and perform) are not yet in the mainstream of public consciousness. Few concert goers can readily recall the melodies of the Spohr #1 as rapidly as that of the Grieg A minor Piano Concerto.
Perhaps, in future decades this situation will change, but until then, the repertoire for clarinet will always take second fiddle (pun intended) to that of the violin or piano.
Perhaps it would be better if I put it into rhyme:
Through the decades there really have been,
Great concerti for the violin.
Superb works for piano.
Concert arias for soprano.
But, the list for clarinet is quite thin ...GBK
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-06-23 01:52
Not very often, except I saw a community orchestra perform the Mozart Concerto because the theme of the night was pieces in A Major.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-06-23 03:18
HAHAHA
Our community orchestra literally scrounges for its music. The pieces for our fall concert were recovered from the dump, when it was found out that the local high school had just jettisoned its orchestra music --because they have only bands in the cirriculum. There were no concertos there.
For the spring concert, we actually bought some inexpensive scores. Thinkin that our instrumentation was marginal; we bought some "theater orchestra" charts. UGH, BAD, Never Again!
For this fall concert, we're going to do two performances. The first will be an evening of chamber music; and credible groups are forming and selecting their own pieces. We'll have a wind quintet, a string quarter, a string quartet + piano; and, maybe, a duo or two.
The Director generally selects the music, but several of us have formed a committee to select pieces for the second concert, which will be the orchestra's performance. We have established the following ground rules for selection of the music:
There must be a credible soloist --if the piece is to be a solo. We think that Beethoven's First Piano Concerto ==First Movenent only ==for the Director's wife would be a good choice;
The Director must be convinced from a recording that our gang can cut the charts;
Our impromptu "music committee" will find money for the parts.
Among other nominations under review are:
Saint-Saens OP 28, Introductin and Rondo Capriccioso with the concert mistress playing;
The second movement of the Mozart KV622 Clarinet Concerto in A-Major, with the local band master performing;
A horn duet.
Anyone have any further suggestions?
Thanks
Bob Phillips
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-06-23 05:02
I know the Crusell Concerti sound a lot like Weber. Is that from the Romantic Era too? I would think it would be cool to see an orchestra play Crusell's Concerto 2 with solo clarinet.
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Author: angelpineapple
Date: 2005-06-23 17:04
This past concert season the Houston Symphony had one concert where the principal clarinetist played both the Weber Concertino and a commissioned concerto by Lavenda (a professor at Rice University). They also had two symphonies in C, one by Mozart and another by Bizet and I think the symphonies were the pieces that were meant to attract the most people since the concert was called "Symphonies in C". But at least the clarinet performed two solo pieces.
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Author: claclaws
Date: 2005-06-23 23:42
Thank you all for interesting information and explanation.
Lucy Lee Jang
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Author: pewd
Date: 2005-06-24 01:55
hm, this thread caused me to search my local symphony's schedule, and i noticed the copeland concerto programmed by the dallas symphony for this fall. i think they average one per year or so.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: allencole
Date: 2005-06-25 16:10
While clarinets sort out Ego and Id,
Others ask what the clarinet did.
Their creative juices
May find it new uses
Like propping up the piano lid!
Allen Cole
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Author: SueSmith
Date: 2005-06-25 17:49
allencole wrote:
> While clarinets sort out Ego and Id,
> Others ask what the clarinet did.
> Their creative juices
> May find it new uses
> Like propping up the piano lid!
>
UH OH - I'm preparing myself for a GBK limerick showdown!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-25 18:04
With apologies to our resident bass clarinetist Dave S -
A concerto for bass would be keen.
It's something we've just never seen.
But who'd want to hear
The first night premiere?
Tickets? You might sell 15... GBK
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Author: allencole
Date: 2005-06-27 07:46
Of COURSE, we have a GBK limerick showdown! How can we not, given that we're exploring such a Woody Allen-ish facet of our craft? I'm looking forward to seeing what else pops up...
We keep trying all manner of gimmick,
And debating which players to mimic.
But our chief legacy
To the world, might just be,
Expressing our plight via limerick!
Allen Cole
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-27 08:34
allencole wrote:
>I'm looking forward to seeing what else pops up...
They found Stadler's attaché case,
Tucked away in an old storage space.
Inside? A big reed.
On the back it decreed:
"No one wants works for the bass!"
...GBK
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2005-06-27 13:13
It's always a treat to see a clarinetist's face,
But the orchestra has families to be fed.
So adcovate all you want for a concerto for bass,
I think they would prefer Brahms' Violin instead!
Post Edited (2005-06-27 13:19)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-06-27 15:19
They'll never program a concerto
for clarinet -- why? No dinero!
The people won't pay
to hear GBK play
unless he's got guitars and long hair-o.......
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-27 15:41
In the '60's I played sax and guitars.
Made some records, smoked more than cigars.
Now, I've still got long hair.
Don't need dental care.
Saloons? Nope - just coffee bars ...GBK
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