The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2006-02-17 18:39
Has anyone learned the Bach cello suites on the bass clarinet? Anyone made a recording of his or her own playing? What publication/edition do you use?
Favorite suites? Movements?
I have seen the suites done on viola, doublebass, guitar, and viola da gamba. Is any commercial recording available on the bass clarinet?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: crnichols
Date: 2006-02-17 18:45
I once attended a class with Craig Nordstrom of the Boston Symphony and he talked about performing the cello suites on the bass clarinet. It's very standard repertoire for bass clarinet players, and his suggestion was to use the original cello part in bass clef, and the Barenreiter Urtext edition. My personal favorite is the d minor suite, especially the prelude and sarabande. As far as recordings go, I don't know about recordings by bass clarinetists, but as we all know, cellists have made many. The Casals recordings are wonderful, and I also have an outstanding one of Jacques Zoon playing the d minor suite on the flute.
Christopher Nichols
1st Infantry Division Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2006-02-17 18:56
I have 2 editions to work from. The Alea publication for bass clarinet with original keys and requires low C bass, and a published transcription done by Trent P. Kynaston for regular Bb clarinet with some key changes to make them easier. I don’t have a low C bass so I am learn them on the Kynaston.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: swkeess
Date: 2006-02-17 18:56
If you are looking for a bass clarinet edition of the cello suites, I would recommend Alea Publishing (http://www.bassclarinet.org/alea.html). I've really enjoyed playing through the different suites - it's definitely a challenge! For Christmas my husband gave me the Yo-Yo Ma CD collection, which is wonderful to listen to.
Susan Keess
Susan Keess
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Shorthand
Date: 2006-02-17 23:12
I have a low Eb bass but am using the Alea ones (mainly just working them up for fun without intent of performance). They're definitely written without regard to what a clarinet should or should not be able to do - which makes them a fun challenge, but it isn't overwhelming at all.
The notes below Eb are pretty rare actually (just the occasional D) so if you just want to learn them, the Alea is fine even on a low Eb instrument, and has the benefit of being a pretty much unedited transcription. Bach left much of the interpretation up to the performer, which is why Pablo Cassals (sp?) interpretation is so important.
Pretty near the top of my wish list is a serious pro Bass so in the back of my mind I'll be able to play those low notes some day.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
|