 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-01-28 21:20
I can always depend upon this board to have opinions and good suggestions. One of the groups I play with on a regular basis is a community band. This group has a lot of retired (and a few current) band directors and music teachers. The director is on a kick where he wants everything to be "new" music. Some of it (really most of it) is pretty crummy. I'd like to see a balance of old classics that have a bit of a challenge musically, maybe some marches and a few new pieces for concerts. Although I have sworn off boards the last decade, it seems I gave in to being on the selection committee this time for a year (I hope it's only a year) along with the director and a retired band director. Just the 3 of us as far as I know.
So, what are suggestions for things that are playable for community bands with a pretty high level of expertise.
Post Edited (2008-01-28 21:22)
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2008-01-28 21:52
My taste always seems to be at odds with everyone else's, but I'll try. Since joining a community ensemble again last year, a couple I enjoyed are:
Grainger - Children's March "Over the Hills And Far Away". Fun listening for an audience.
Reed - Praise Jerusalem
There are plenty more, but you'll get a lot of other suggestions.
I've also come across a set for "Blue Lake Overture" by John Barnes Chance. I don't know if this is a staple of American Bands, and I haven't heard it, but perusing the score is interesting reading.
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Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2008-01-28 22:04
Hi Brenda,
My community band here in Connecticut had a good year, performing in about a dozen concert around the state. We also played in the Lake George Band Festival in upper New York.
Here are some of the selections that we featured:
The Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle by John Philip Sousa
The Prince of Egypt by Stephen Schwartz
The Entertainer by Scott Joplin
The Wizard of Oz by Harold Arlen
New York 1927 by Warren Barker
Carmen Suite by George Bizet
As you can see, quite a mixed bag, and all highly recommended. We are fortunate to have an extensive library of older scores which are harder to find these days. I feel the same way as you regarding the 'new band music'.
Mike Blinn
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-01-28 22:31
Hello, Brenda:
Our little band is in a small town (pop. about 2,600), about the largest bump in the road for 35-40 miles around. Many retirees living here, so too much modern pop music, and these folks lose interest . . . so, this list from our last concert is typical of what we play:
Military Escort March
Allegheny Moon
Bugler's Holiday
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
In the Mood
Under the Double Eagle
Ode to Joy
Colonel Bogie March
Themes from "Pirates of the Caribbean"
Theme From "Swan Lake"
Cha-Cha for Band
Down By The Riverside
Has Anyone Seen My Gal (Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue)
Bonaparte's Retreat
America The Beautiful
King Cotton March
This list might not go over well in more urban areas, but it works for us.
I am our music scrounger and find huge quantities of band music sets on the unmentionable auction site. Shop with patience and you can get just about any type music - used, new, old stock - for an average price of around $15 - $20.
Our band is about two years old now and we have a fairly nice little music library of around 375 or so titles which gives us maneuvering room when selecting concert repetoire.
Also, one can borrow music from the Chatfield Brass Band Music Library in Minnesota at www.chatfieldband.lib.mn.us
Eu
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-01-28 23:27
Depends for what audience and when. This year's main features were an excerpt of "Phantom of the Opera", Suppé's "Light Cavalry" ouverture and Haydn's Trumpet Concerto.
Plus the usual mix of marches, polkas and <cough> oldie medleys.
--
Ben
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Author: Mags1957
Date: 2008-01-29 00:21
Here's a few that are fun for the band AND the audience that I've conducted semi-recently with a community band:
Suite of Old American Dances (Bennett)
Armenian Dances Part 1 (Reed)
Yiddish Dances (Gorb)
El Camino Real (Reed)
Der Rosenkavelier (Strauss - I'm not sure the arranger)
Rhapsody in Blue
Cappricio Espagnol
March From 1941
Midway March
Phantom of the Opera (arr Barker)
Pathfinder of Panama (one of my favorite concert marches)
Zampa (od school, but fun!)
Of Sailors and Whales (McBeth)
Hope that helps!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-01-29 01:08
Hi Brenda - I've been happily reading the above, and feel impelled to add some info re: our {New}Tulsa Community Band, find our website for a bit of acquaintance. The linked interview is more than 6 MB, takes a lot of download time for me. Our band has 50-70 menmbers and as said plays some of nearly everything. Our most recent concert included Moussorsky's [Boris Gudonov] Coronation Scene, and Persichetti's Pageant along with Chr selections, Tschaikovsky arrgt. , including some pieces by Ed Huckaby, local composer. Major classics have included Gershwin's Cuban Overture, Der Rosen K, L'Arlesienne selections, Light Cav, etc. I'm asked to "research" composer/work for verbal "program notes", and have found [too?] much on the net for band and audience benefit, enjoyable ! I echo the comments about many contemporary compositions being more trial than musical, guess I'm just too oldt. Eve thots, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: swkeess
Date: 2008-01-29 01:18
Last spring we played the second and third movements from Howard Hanson's Second Symphony (the Romantic Symphony). The two movements for symphonic band were by two different arrangers, but they blended well and were both challenging to play and appreciated by the audience. A strong French horn section would especially enjoy this music, although it has plenty of interesting parts all around. If you are interested, email me offline and I will be happy to provide the internet sources that I found when I went looking for this music last year.
Personally, I have always enjoyed Grainger band arrangements and have just bought "Molly On The Shore" for our community concert band. I'll be playing the bass clarinet part although I enjoyed the alto clarinet part very much the first time I played this with another group. What other composer offers the alto clarinet a chance to play an exposed part with the solo clarinet? Lots of fun, to say the least.
Susan Keess
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-01-29 02:42
Mags,
Pathfinders of Panama is also one of my favorites and very few people know it. Nice clarinet part.
HRL
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Author: davidsampson
Date: 2008-01-29 03:04
Hank: It may have a fun clarinet part, but the bass part is atrociously boring, even as marches go.
Some pieces I like:
Hindemith Symphony in Bb
First Suite in Eb for Military Band - Holst
Lincolnshire Posy - Grainger
Molly on the Shore - Grainger
Childrens March - Grainger
Zampa Overture - JLF Herold
Russian Easter Festival Overture - Rimsky-Korsakov
Marche Slave - Tchaikovsky
Chester - Schuman
El Camino Real - Reed
Festive Overture - Shostakovich
Nitro - Frank Ticheli
Pilatus: Mountain of Dragons - Reineke
White Rose March - Sousa
Apollo - Brian Balmages, a concerto for Soprano Sax and Symphonic Band
Siegessinfonie - Beethoven arr. Blackwell
Danse Diabolique - Hellmesberger
Post Edited (2008-01-29 03:19)
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Author: pewd
Date: 2008-01-29 03:59
Newer stuff:
Tichelli, Frank An American Elegy (2000) An amazing piece of music.
Tichelli, Frank Amazing Grace (1994) Wonderful arrangement of this tune.
Tichelli, Frank Shenandoah (1999) Aniother great arrangement by Tichelli.
Harbinson, William G. River Songs of the South (2007) (Alfred Publishing)
Reineke, Steven Into The Raging River (1999) (Birch Island Music Press)
and one of my favorites:
Reineke, Steven Pilatus: Mountain of Dragons (2002) (C. L. Barnhouse)
This is an awesome piece for wind band.
The North Texas Wind Symphony Composer's Collection of CDs
is a nice set to have, this will give you many suggestions. Amazon.com
Check out the Tichelli collection, also the collection of works by Donald Grantham. Another interesting modern composer is Joseph Schwantner (see the North TX composer's collection of his stuff too).
I have a recording of Pilatus around her somewhere, ask me offline (community band performance, with all the resultant flying notes, etc
I will have a recording of the Harbinson in about 2 months, after we perform it
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
Post Edited (2008-01-29 04:23)
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Author: Dan Oberlin ★2017
Date: 2008-01-29 13:44
Programs from recent concerts:
September 25
Jubilance, Giovanni-Robinson
Elegy for a Young American, Lo Presti
The Battell, Bryd-Jacob
Crown Imperial, Walton-Duthoit
Samurai, Clarke
Bolero, Ravel-Erickson
Jericho, Gould
November 13
Molly on the Shore, Grainger-Rogers
Heroes , Lost and Fallen, Gillingham
Di Quella Pira (for Pavarotti), Verdi-Hanna
Capriccio Italien, Tschaikowsky-Winterbottom
Fu-Mon, Hoshina
Salome's Dance, Strauss-Hindsley
Law and Order March (NOT for Fred T.), Alford
Il Guarany Overture, Gomez-Clarke
And, next week,
March of the Conch Republic, Brusick
Symphony No. 5, second movement, Mendelssohn-Norona
Concertino for Wind and Brass Quintets, Washburn
Lord of the Rings Symphony (all five movements), de Meij
D.O.
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Author: clarijen
Date: 2008-01-29 14:01
Pieces that I've enjoyed playing recently:
Klezmer Classics, Johan de Meij (great solos for first clarinet!)
For kids concerts: Mary Poppins, R & R. Sherman
Peter & The Wolf, Prokofiev
Olympic Fanfare, The Cowboys - John Williams
Simon & Garfunkel Medley - Arr. Kurt Gäble
As for classics - I've also recently played quite a nice arrangement of Handel's Royal Fireworks, think it was arranged by Hamilton Harty, and Vaughan Williams' English Folk Song Suite.
And if you have some willing clarinet soloists, there is a great Mendelssohn Concertpiece (No. 2, Opus 114) for two clarinets and wind orchestra...
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2008-01-29 14:33
'Old classics'?
Eric Ball's 'Indian Summer' suite.
Also any number of marches. Colonel Bogey in particular always makes audiences smile and is quite challenging if you want to play it well (the countermelody in the trio is one of the /all time great/ bass solos).
There are also some excellent arrangements of standards like 'Take the 'A' Train' out there.
As for real 'classical' music, Holst's suites for military band are both musical and immensely playable. Also Vaughan Williams' 'English Folk Song Suite'.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-01-29 14:59
A good reference to band music is the "Band Music Guide". The Allentown Band has a library of about 3600 cataloged scores. Southern Music Co. was, and may still be, a good source for music, even out-of-print stuff. Unfortunately, much of the classic concert band music is now out-of-print.
richard smith
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-01-29 16:03
These are some really great ideas and I appreciate them all. We have a very large library and we rehearse in the band hall of one of our 3 universities in town, so we have access to a broad range of stuff. We also have been blessed with a great amount of support in the form of grants, so our concerts are all free and we still have plenty of money to buy music, rent the concert hall for 3 performances a year (Fall, Christmas and Spring) and pay the director and a guest artist once a year. We give the director a budget to buy the "new stuff" he so craves, but sometimes it is a total waste of money (IMO).
We've done a lot of the music suggested above.
First Suite in Eb for Military Band - Holst
Suite of Old American Dances (Bennett)
America The Beautiful
English Folk Song SuiteSalute to New York City
NewYork 1927 (which I enjoy playing)
We also do a lot of big band music because we have a lot of older people in our audience. And because we have a large military community we get invited to do a lot of patriotic events throughout the year.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2008-01-29 16:12
"NEW"?
Was it not you who sited Sturgeon's Law here a few months ago?
Talk the dude into "New and PROVEN"
Bob Phillips
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-01-29 16:45
Bob, I'm not clear about the Sturgeon's Law thing. Don't think that was me. Could you explain a bit more about that. I did a search and found a quote from board member Lelia Loban making that comment.
Post Edited (2008-01-29 16:49)
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Author: susieray
Date: 2008-01-29 17:42
Resting In The Peace Of His Hands by John Gibson
and
Portrait of a City by Philip Sparke
Very nice contemporary pieces for band and audiences like them.
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Author: MichaelR
Date: 2008-01-29 20:54
> So, what are suggestions for things that are playable for community bands with a pretty high level of expertise.
Our band, Vancouver (WA) Community Concert Band, focuses on the "Community" and is accessible to all, even players like me.
Our current rehearsal list is at:
http://www.vccb.us/node/11
And currently it lists:
* Armed Forces Medley, US Coast Guard Version
* Beatles Medley
* Bircusse and Newley on Broadway
* Broadway Spectacular
* Coach, Theme from
* Eternal Father
* His Honor
* Hogan's Heroes
* In The Good Old Summertime
* Invercargill
* Jag, Theme from
* Kansas City
* Klaxon
* KSU Alma Mater
* Kryie Elieson
* Pachelbel Canon
* Panis Angelicus
* Skater's Waltz
* Sonantine
* Stars and Stripes Forever
* Summertime
* Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer
* Wildcat Victory March
--
Michael of Portland, OR
Be Appropriate and Follow Your Curiosity
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-01-30 01:18
Hi,
At a recent concert, one of the bands I play with did Swearingen's Flight of Valor. My wife's comment "what the heck was that all about?" Bilik's American Civil War Fantasy and Chorale and Shaker Dance impressed her much more. Lynne is not a musician but is a critical listener that seems to have a pretty good grasp on repertoire without knowing it.
HRL
PS I wonder how she will like Slava next month?
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2008-01-30 08:12
susieray - Philip Sparke is brilliant, forgot about him. I like 'Tameside Overture'. Also anything by Jim Parker. Both very accessible contemporary composers.
Hank - Chorale & Shaker Dance is indeed a good piece.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2008-01-30 10:59
Hi Brenda,
There are many pieces for community bands at high level.
Here are some of my favorites:
Yiddish Dances - A. Gorb (Never played a more fun piece for Eb than this one!)
Symphonic Dance - S. Rachmaninoff
Latin-American Symphonette - M. Gould
Carmen Suite - G. Bizet
El Camino Real - A. Reed
Planets - Holst
We made a live recording of some of the pieces I mentioned on the dutch championship last year, you can listen to them at:
http://www.jennekens.net/
Eddy
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-01-30 11:42
Bassie, Yes, a great piece. I played 1st alto and there are some nice solo passages.
DavidSampson, I have had the BC duty in my years and have found that not a lot of the pieces have too interesting parts. In Sousa marches, you may well be doubling some low sax or brass parts for the most part. On Pathfinders, the 2nd clarinet part lays right over the break and it's really two hands full in the last strain.
On the band thing, one common theme that I have found though is the repertoire is usually anchored with the institution that is housing the community band. Let me explain.
Over the last few years, I have played in eight different groups on most of the single reeds (I have done double reeds in the past). If the band is associated with a college or university and the director is a faculty member (some have had doctorates in conducting) the literature is much harder, there are few if any pop numbers, and the musicianship present/required is a great deal higher. Expectations on part preparation are very high. I tend to call these groups communiversity bands. Lots of people with college level experience, many active and retired band directors/music teachers like myself, as well as a lot of players with very good chops.
If the band is not a communiversity type group and contains a goodly number of more casual players (they tend to be in the group for a lot of social reasons and are not the type to usually woodshed a part to a high level) and the literature is more popular-based. However, this is not to generalize and say that there are not good musicians present or that expectations are not high but IMHO, in these bands, things are not as demanding. The repertoire contains show tunes, sing-a-longs, a whole lot of marches, some serious works, as well as traditional band pieces.
The key to my happy co-existence in these very varied groups is "you've got to know the territory" (ala The Music Man). I don't get too excited when my stand mate is not very good (I have become more helpful rather than frustrated in my old age) or the rehearsal tends to drag on and on.
My wife calls me an elitist at times but I've been able to work it out. But IMHO. trying to be a communiversity player in a community band or vice versa is a challenge that one must come to grips with to find real "band happiness."
The concert fare will give you a pretty good idea about the band though. Check this band out. They've pretty well got it all; the director has a stupendous university band program in my locale.
http://www.wheatonmunicipalband.org/index.html
HRL
Post Edited (2008-01-31 01:22)
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-01-30 22:21
I agree with the above comment, "you've got to know the territory." We've got a lot of great players, but we also have some mediocre ones. We're open to anyone who has at least high school level competency, and preferable some college experience. Most of our people are college grads, but we have a few who aren't.
We've done quite a bit of the lists you've all mentioned, but there are some really good suggestions that I intend to find out about. First I'll look in our library, because it's possible they are already there.
We have a university professor who is our guest conductor each year and he brings some very nice stuff to the table. We had a blast with a very unusual piece named "Aquarium," can't remember the composer. The clarinet parts were a lot of fun. You're supposed to imagine the guppys and other fish as the piece progresses. It's an acquired taste.
The Symphonic Dance piece is one we've performed.
Also, I really enjoy Andrew Lloyd Webber pieces. I can't remember the name of the one we did a couple of years back that had the Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar in it. It was a crowd pleaser. Very well put together. The man's a genius.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2008-01-30 23:31
Sturgeon's Law: "80% of everything is crap."
Sturgeon was criticizing science fiction writing, but the general application of the "law" seems acceptable. Thus, maybe 1 in 5 new pieces (more or less) in not crap. The problem is that we must experiment with it and try it out before we'll know --and (Bob's law) crap ain't always crap to everyone.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-01-31 14:10
Well, Bob, it certainly holds true in the "new" stuff the director has brought out so far.
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2008-01-31 15:38
Brenda's orginal post mentioned a "selection committee." I assume that means a committee that chooses music for the band to play. I have played in 4 community bands since returning to music, and the conductor (music director) had the sole authority to select music in every one of them.
Is a selection committee more normal than my experience indicates?
As for music, look up a CD called "Beachcomber" featuring the Dallas Wind Symphony. It has a lot of good band tunes. I also would vote for Philip Sparke or Alfred Reed music.
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-01-31 15:57
Well, I suppose every community band has their own method for choosing their music. Our tiny (25 - 30 member) little band more or less defers to me, the librarian, to stock the library with a variety of music that the local folks will enjoy. Also, I need to obtain arrangements which are not too difficult for our mostly older band members, the majority of whom have not played in 20 to 50 years.
I solicit and receive from the Director and band members recommendations and requests ("be on the lookout for . . . ") on a regular basis. Most of the time I keep busy in scrounging mode, and the Band Director regularly asks me, "What new stuff do you have for us this week?"
Eu
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-01-31 16:17
Our band has a "music commission" who selects the pieces. The conductor can't officially vote (being an employee) but he has a counselling function re the pieces (so de facto he does have a say).
--
Ben
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2008-01-31 18:25
I love a lot of the stuff in David Sampson's list above. Some others I would add are
Vientos y Tangos by Michael Gandolfi
Blue Shades by Frank Ticheli
Lord of the Rings Symphony by Johan de Meij
Three City Blocks by John Harbison
Metropolitan Wind Serenade by Peter Schikele
Gazebo Dances by John Corigliano
Symphony by Morton Gould
Symphony in Bb by Paul Hindemith
Both Suites by Holst
Pineapple Poll by Gilbert and Sullivan
Four Scottish Dances by Malcom Arnold
Overture for Winds by Mendelssohn
On the Town suite and Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein
Lincolnshire Posy by Grainger
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-01-31 20:29
This selection committee consists of me, the director and another band member who happens to be a retired band director. I was asked to be on the committee because of my other musical interests (I also play in an orchestra and play with other groups from time to time) and also because they wanted someone who is not a band director or retired band director.
In the past the director has selected all the music, but the last few years the band has been unhappy with his selections. He's not selected the best stuff for us to play and the audience has even grumbled a bit, so we decided it was time to have a committee to help with the decisions. We're not ruling out his expertise, just wanting more variety than the ones he was picking. We're supposed to vote on the pieces we don't like after we sight-read, but the last few years the director has stopped having us vote and he's just decided on his own. There are also other circumstances that have made this come to pass, but that's the gist of it.
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Author: Michelle
Date: 2008-02-01 02:03
I second the "Old American Dances" by Bennett... some decent bass clarinet stuff in there! Also second "Second Suite in Eb" by Holst. I also like "Armenian Dances" (Alfred Reed), and hated but have come to like "Variations on a Korean Folk Song" (John Barnes Chance). "Malaguena from Andalucia suite" (Lecuona, arr. Cacavas) is an easy, fun one that the audience likes. Several of those are on our current concert agenda.
Good luck with your decision making - we've played some real dogs also. Not much the average band member can do but grin and bear it - and if you're brave enough, slip a flask in your jacket pocket for intermission. (A long-standing joke between the bari sax player and I... tempting during some pieces!)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-02-01 02:32
Hi Everyone,
It's interesting to see what others have posted above as far as "concert fare for community bands." There is some really hard stuff above and the 2nd clarinet parts on several (across the break and lots of alternates needed) are really bears. Nothing is sadder than hearing a band not be able to cut it.
I am playing or have played in some very good groups and unless you've got dedicated and skilled players, full instrumentation, and a more than capable director it is hard for me to see a lot of groups being able to perform many of these works. Maybe one or two major works per concert but more than that IMHO is not fun for the audience or the band.
Loving the literature is one thing. Being able to program and perform it is another (which is what I though the original question was).
HRL
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2008-02-01 12:01
Well, the request was for a 'pretty high level of expertise', but I know what you mean. I've tried to post stuff that I know can be played by even the bands I've played in....
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-02-01 12:27
Bassie,
Yes, you are correct. But I think that many bands (and directors) may all too often over-estimate the abilities required. I just don't think there are that many bands that have a "pretty high level of expertise." Now the Wheaton Band that I sent the link for above blows the doors off and is deep in all sections but that group is an exception.
In one group I played with last summer, in American Salute, I swear I was the only 2nd clarinet that was playing though most of the harder sections of the piece. Those around me just sort of quit! I had to do a lot of woodshedding BTW. The pop-type tunes, singalongs, and marches were within reach and that was about it.
HRL
PS I've played (or tried to play) some orchestra transcriptions that surely require an A clarinet and band literature does not provide that kind of part.
Post Edited (2008-02-01 13:58)
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2008-02-01 14:55
Actually, I can recall one instance many years ago where the piece we were presented with (can't remember the name, something fantasia or carnival or something, all altissimo semis at crotchet=180) was so hard that it figured in my decision to leave the band. Before I finally threw in the towel I had borrowed a friend's A clarinet and had marked two instrument switches in the piece.
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Author: Omega Klez
Date: 2008-02-01 15:15
Here is the lineup for our band's Feb pops concert:
Sousa! arr. Warren Baker (our director is a Sousa fanatic)
Saint Louis Blues March by W.C. Handy
In the Miller Mood (LOVE this one) arr. W. Baker
Sandpaper Ballet (Leroy Anderson) arr. H. v.d. Helde
A Trumpeter's Lullaby (Leroy Anderson) arr. Philip J. Lang
Belle of the Ball by Leroy Anderson
Leroy Anderson, A Legacy in Sound arr. Robert W. Smith
Leroy Anderson's Promenade arr. Philip J. Lang
Selections from Chicago (really good) arr. Ted Ricketts
We don't always focus on Leroy Anderson. Every concert has a unique flavor, except that we always have at least one tribute to Sousa, and in Spring we do a Sousa concert.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-02-01 15:35
I enjoy Leroy Anderson's pieces, but sometimes I swear he must really dislike clarinets because of the lack of places to breathe. I jokingly say his first wife must have been a clarinetist and she must have gotten the kids, the house and he got the bills.
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Author: lrooff
Date: 2008-02-04 04:19
Our community band is currently working on, among other things, Holst's First Suite in Eb, and Holsinger's Havendance. The Havendance is one of those pieces where the composer can't make up his mind as to the meter, and it changes meter nine times in the first 20 measures alone... We've speculated about the physiology of a dancer who could actually dance to it.
Another enjoyable piece is Ives' Variations on America. I was playing bassoon when we did it in college, and particularly remember the allegro movement because the bassoon part had 16th note runs on the thumb keys.
Two pieces we've done recently that were enjoyed by both us and the audiences were the American Elegy, and a medley of songs from Pirates of the Caribbean.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-02-05 19:21
Opus II, I really enjoyed your mp3 pieces on the link you provided. The Yiddish Dances was great! Kudos, my friend! Thank you for sharing. I think the Yiddish Dances would work for the orchestra I play with in Israel, but I'm the only clarinetist in our community band who can do Klezmer.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2008-02-05 21:27
Hi Brenda,
We didn't have any experience with Klezmer and we've learned it along the way. Take your chance and have fun with this piece , I've enjoyed every concert playing the Eb in this piece (and that isn't very common on Eb)
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2008-02-06 12:31
Anything arranged by Johann de Meij (sp?) is excellent. Have played James Bond 007, Star Wars Saga, Moment for Morricone (Good, Bad & Ugly / Once Upon a Time in America). De Meij's real gift in transcriptions from orchestral music is maintaining the range of sounds and textures that are in the originals. Star Wars is a real b****r for clarinets during the main Star Wars theme, but when you hear what the strings are doing behind the trumpet melody, it makes sense. Challenging, but worth playing. Whilst on a Dutch theme, try Oregon (Jacob de Haan). Stuff by Ted Huggens is also fun, but too much can get very 'samey'. In a joint concert with another band, we played Blue Pavane, the other band played Chorale & Rock-out. New Baroque Suite is definitely worth a go, however.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-02-06 15:00
Yes, I remember doing the Star Wars thing a few years back. The clarinet part was challenging. But it was funand the audience enjoyed it.
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The Clarinet Pages
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