 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Phat Cat
Date: 2006-12-25 12:16
While driving around picking up last minute holiday items yesterday, I heard on NPR the Garrison Keilor show being broadcast from Town Hall in NYC. Peter Schickele (a.k.a. P. D. Q. Bach) led a group that included our long-time poster on Eb clarinet playing a medley of Christmas tunes arranged for "six neglected intruments," including piccolo, contrabasson, gong, English horn and another that I forget. In spite of Mr. Schickele describing the Eeefer as a "little clarinet that doesn't deserve discussion," Mr. Moses acquitted himself well, including of all crimingal charges associated with the arrangement.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2006-12-25 15:45
I heard the end of that. Mr. Schickele didn't do the eefer-player any favors - the part was very high and not very loud, not a good combination on that instrument. I remarked to my wife about how well in tune the eefer was. Wish I had heard more of it.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-12-25 16:47
Peter Schickele assembled an amazing group and gave them some mean licks. John was truly elegant on the effer, playing with a fat, warm sound high and low and tossing off the difficulties as if they didn't exist.
Three cheers plus holiday cheer for JMM.
Ken Shaw
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2006-12-25 23:40
Happy Holidays to all of you, and thanks for the kind words about our "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor on Public Radio.
We rehearsed Peter Schickele's little Christmas medley on Friday afternoon, just prior to that night's performance at Town Hall in NYC.
I've played in Peter's PDQ Bach Orchestra for over 25 years at Carnegie Hall, so I knew what to expect when he called me to play Eb Clarinet at the Town Hall concert.
Peter is a charming, talented, good friend, but he writes really tricky stuff for all of us. The piece was titled "Joy To The World, Especially Out-Of-Work Musicians." The group consisted of:
Piccolo
English Horn
Eb Clarinet
Bari Sax
Contra Bassoon
Gong
Not an easy group to write for, or make sound very good, but Peter pulled it off once again, and the crowd at the Hall had a ball. We repeated the performance on Saturday night, and, once again, the crowd went wild. It was a wonderful experience playing Peter's music with first-class NYC musicians...I was honored by Peter and Garrison who both mentioning each of us in the group by name.
So, if any of you are interested, you can listen to our little piece on "A Prairie Home Companion" at: http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2006/12/
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
Post Edited (2006-12-26 04:21)
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Author: Mitchell Estrin
Date: 2006-12-26 02:23
John is not only a great player, but one of the finest human beings and colleagues in the music business. His dossier reads like a virtual who's who in music over the past several decades. In NYC, he is the number one clarinet call and is beloved by all. I am very fortunate to have studied with John and to have worked with him. Bravo John!!!
MSE
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2006-12-26 20:33
John - Thanks For The Link!
Listened to all, including Prof. Schickele's introductions of the instruments and their players. I don't think they are all as "needy" as they were described. Always glad to hear musicians acknowledged!
Very playful arrangement, making use of the entire range of all of the instruments.
This smacks of Gordon Jacob's 1958 arrangement of "Annie Laurie" for 2 piccolos, hecklephone, contrabassoon, serpent, harmonium, hurdy gurdy, and others, performed in Gerard Hoffnung's Interplanetary Music Festival.
Ralph
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2006-12-27 04:00
Thanks again for all the kind words...here's a quicker link to our little Christmas piece; it's Segment 3...
01:20:29 "Joy to the World Especially Out of Work Musicians" - Peter Schickele Ensemble
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2006/12/23/
Joy to the world and may you all find peace for the New Year!
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
Post Edited (2006-12-27 04:02)
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-12-27 14:27
Thanks John. I did find it before, but it took a bit of searching. Your link helps. What a nice piece and it sounds like it was a lot of fun to do. Kudos!
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