 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: claclaws
Date: 2007-08-11 11:37
I'm reading The Clarinet magazine of June 2007 edition, and happen to find that 'Van Cott Information Services' offers clarinet books. 'Mozart Forgeries' is there, to my pleasant surprize, and as I remember having had advice from bboarders and then purschased the book with no regret, I'm asking for advice again.
The books I'm curious about are:
1. Clarinet (Brymer)
2. The clarinet Revealed (Ferron)
3. The Clarinet Doctor (Klug)
Are these 'real' books (i.e. not method books with scores to practice, etc)? How readable are they? Is any one of them a fiction, like Mozart Forgeries?
I'll be most grateful if any of you who have read these books give me short reviews/comments. And if you know some other clarinet-related books that you liked, please tell me.
Thank you in advance.
Lucy Lee Jang
Post Edited (2007-08-11 11:40)
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Author: Ed
Date: 2007-08-11 12:40
I don't know the Clarinet Revealed.
The Klug book contains material on teaching the clarinet-concepts, exercises, syllabus, etc. It is good as an outline of study, self tutor, to enhance your skills, etc.
I read the Brymer book many years back when it was published. It is all about the history of the clarinet, clarinet playing, styles, music, mechanisms, etc. It is a very easy and comfortable read. If you are looking for more of a book that you can sit down and read, that might be what you need.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-08-11 12:51
Brymer was an excellent writer as well as a top player. His book is an interesting combination of history, personal experience and technical advice on playing -- for example, resonance fingerings for the throat tones, G through Bb.
I haven't read The Clarinet Revealed, but from Gary's description at http://www.vcisinc.com/ClarinetCat.pdf, it's a short, rather technical book on clarinet design and repair.
I haven't read Howard Klug's book, but he's a well known teacher, and David's recommendation is certainly right.
If you don't already have it, you should get A Soprano on Her Head by Eloise Ristad (which Gary also stocks). It's one of the best books ever on improving musical performance, with wonderful insights on every page. The lessons are in story form, so it's also good reading.
Ken Shaw
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Author: claclaws
Date: 2007-08-11 13:28
Thank you, gentlemen, for you kind advice.
I was really hesitating between Brymer and Soprano On Her Head, and opted for the latter. Thank you, Ken, for the Catalog, too! So many interesting books, and so RARE ones, I must say! I think the Van Cott website is really specialized.
I'm so glad I know this site.
Lucy Lee Jang
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2007-08-12 16:16
Brymer's book is great...but don't miss out on The Clarinet Doctor!
Howard Klug is a great teacher, the book is filled with stuff every young clarinetist must know. You'll find out exactly where you shold be after four years at good conservatory or university.
Good luck claclaws!
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Ed
Date: 2007-08-12 16:23
One of my all time favorite books on the clarinet, music, and teaching, which is unfortunately out of print is
Rosario Mazzeo:The clarinet: Excellence and artistry
It has some wonderfully fresh concepts and observations. Truly brilliant.
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Author: sherman
Date: 2007-08-12 18:12
The Keith Stein book. I always considered that as the real bible of the instrument, and actually learned the superb therapeutic value of double lip embouchure from that special work.
Rosario asked all of his students to obtain the book.
His wasn't published as yet.
Sherman Friedland
Post Edited (2007-08-13 02:34)
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Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 2007-08-13 03:14
It is interesting but I had the exact opposite reaction to the Mazzeo book. I thought that most of the material from the columns was really obvious and produced under a "what am I going to write about this time?" mentality.
I think you can get this book from Dorn. Even though I don't think much of it, I would sell it if I could but the last time I asked they wouldn't give me a reasonable discount.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-08-13 03:47
Re: The Mazzeo book
I think that some of the alternate fingering ideas, recommendations and ideas in chapters 18 and 19 are useful as long as you are careful to note which ones are specific to the 17/6 clarinet and not for the full Boehm (21/7) clarinet
The chapter on unusual old and new clarinets is somewhat interesting, but not practical.
The remainder of the book has chapters on meter, tonguing, legato, staccato, clarinet equipment, acoustics, etc... but similar books (for example - the Stein book) cover the same ground...GBK
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Author: Ed
Date: 2007-08-13 13:08
Quote:
The remainder of the book has chapters on meter, tonguing, legato, staccato, clarinet equipment, acoustics, etc... but similar books (for example - the Stein book) cover the same ground..
Well, I guess then it would be necessary to own one book, since essentially all the books cover these topics! Save some $$![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
My thoughts are that the Mazzeo covers much of this somewhat differently than other books I have read, with many different illustrations on ways to approach these issues. His viewpoints are unique and vert thought provoking. He also has very musical points to make.
The chapters on the various scale books is great and illuminates the variety of books he used and the different approaches to working on scales, obtaining specific benefits from each.
The chapter on the Eugene Gay method is good, unfortunately this method is largely unused.
Obviously, there are differing opinions, but I wanted to clarify my points on why I feel that there are some great lessons and great reading here. While many books cover similar material, I often feel that each of these books, in its own style, has its own approach and somehow contributes to my whole education and making me a complete player and teacher.
Post Edited (2007-08-13 13:58)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-08-13 13:36
Since these authors/books haven't been mentioned, they should be included in any listing, IMHO. Rendall, Stubbins, Pino [who has, I believe, just finished a series of ICA articles re: Keith Stein's teachings, also]. These, and others, are often still available in medium-to-large libraries or by library [reference] exchange. Searches for books with "clarinet in the title" will yield even more from the major and used book sellers. Al Rice has written two "historical clarinet" books, and more is promised I believe. The recent Shackleton Collection Colloquiam [sp?] conference in Edinburgh should be followed by many books from many new authors, such as Dr. Debbie Reeves of NMM. Lots of [US,GB] info is "out there", and writings [translated] from FR, DE, IT, JP authors should be considered also. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2007-08-13 17:23
I scoured the internet to find a seller for Mazzeo's book. When I finally received it...sad disappointment. It's mostly yada yada yada; he was, sorry to say, kind of a windbag. There's a lot about "The Famous (?) California Custom Clarinet." I'm glad I bought it though, there's some interesting things in it, mostly about clarinetists he knew etc.
If you think Mazzeo is dull; try Stubbins "The Art of Clarinetistry." It takes pretentious pedantry to a new high or low?
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2007-08-14 01:48
"If you think Mazzeo is dull; try Stubbins "The Art of Clarinetistry." It takes pretentious pedantry to a new high or low?"
I read that! It was challenging and probably pedantic, but I think his writing style was the problem rather than any pretentiousness. It contains some valuable insights, though the acoustic sections seem way too long for the points Stubbins makes.
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2007-08-14 01:57
I bought the Ferron book about a month ago, and were it not so pricey, I'd have all my students buy it, especially for the short, clear treatise on practical clarinet acoustics.
B.
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2007-08-14 14:56
The University of New South Wales has a super site dealing with acoustics from a clarinet viewpoint.
It's something not to miss, you can dip into at any time, and it costs nothing. It really nails clarinet acoustics to the wall and in only 16 pages!
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/clarinet/index.html
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2007-08-14 20:33
One that I like a lot ois the Cambridge Compendium for the Clarinet. Very well written in most of the chapters and lots of interesting reading. Certainly the best pieces on the "other" clarinets in any of the other books I've read. However, it's not a book that teaches a lot of techniques or goods how-to's. Still something that should be on your shelf.
Eefer guy
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The Clarinet Pages
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