 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2008-07-15 21:19
I may have the opportunity next year to perform a clarinet concerto with a quite good string orchestra, and am looking for suggestions. It's a chamber orchestra, strings only (approx. 5/4/3/2/2), and they can get a pianist. There will not be wind players available.
I was thinking Copland with the piano taking the harp part, but might prefer to play something that isn't so frequently programmed. I'm also leaning toward the possibility of the McAllister X Concerto. I'd welcome any further suggestions.
Any recommendations?
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2008-07-15 22:02
I suppose it depends how you define 'newish'
Perhaps...
Malcolm Arnold No. 1
Finzi
Cooke
Weber or Baermann quintets expanded
I enjoyed the X concerto the first time I listened to it, but I can't say it blows me away on repeated listenings.
Am not sure I understand what you've said about Copland...you'll need the pianist and the harpist.
Shame you can't find two bassoons, two horns and a snare drum and do the Nielsen.
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2008-07-15 22:29
If it's available, the James Cohn Concerto for Clarinet and Strings (first one). Jon Manasse recorded it on "Jon Manasse Plays Music from Three Centuries."
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2008-07-15 23:20
Try The Beggars Concerto Tischauser. Written in the 1970s. I'm sure you know a lot of the good English concertos but I would recommend the Jacob Concerto ( not the Tartini one), the Rawsthorne, Finzi, concerto and Bagatelles. The piece i'm premièring in London in Nov at St Martin in the Fields with the Chamber Ensemble of London, Clive Jenkins Five Pieces. Also there is the Tomasi and Sieber concertos from France.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2008-07-16 00:17
For Copland, I was thinking to just smush the harp and piano parts into one part for one pianist. Not a great way about it, hence my hesitance to go that route.
The Weiss has winds in it.
I'll check out some of the others, keep em coming!
Ideally, I'd like to play something that isn't performed terribly often (save for the Copland, because I know it and therefore may need a bit less prep), as I personally tend to have a better time knowing that I'll be doing something new and unusual. Still, if it's well-known and I like it anyways, I won't keep it off the list.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: donald
Date: 2008-07-16 00:40
John Ritchie Concertino (3 movements- recorded by Marina Sturm with NZ Chamber orchestra)
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2008-07-16 13:09
How about the Jim Parker concerto? - exactly the scoring you want, written in the 90's and you do not say what kind of audience you expect but very approachable for a middle-of-the road crowd who may no know much clarinet music or 20th century music.
It's jazz-influenced in parts and also inspired by three poems having been commissioned by London Underground's "Poems on the Underground".
It lasts about 13 minutes (if I remember rightly) and has been recorded by Ian Herbert.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-07-16 13:31
"For Copland, I was thinking to just smush the harp and piano parts into one part for one pianist. Not a great way about it, hence my hesitance to go that route."
YIKES. Hope you find a killer pianist.
Sorry I don't have something serious to contribute...good luck!
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-07-16 16:18
It's hard to beat the Finzi Concerto (which was the first thing that came to my mind), but if you're looking for some less-played works, here are some more possibilities:
Jim McGrath: Suite for Clarinet and String Orchestra
Composer's website is http://www.jimmcgrath.ca
Astor Piazzolla: Contemplacion y Danza
(Surprisingly un-Piazzolla-like, but it has potential)
Both of these pieces you can find recordings of on iTunes, as well as the Jim Parker concerto mentioned above (which sounds like it would be a lot of fun to play). (And of course, there are several recordings of Finzi on iTunes as well).
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Author: fantasmacantos
Date: 2008-07-16 19:13
Finzi... that's it. You can also look for the Penderecki's Sifonietta no. 2 (the orchestral version of his quartet made by himself), and for it you can listen to the Sharon Kam's cd "Sharon Kam meet Krystoff Penderecki".
Brahms quintet works better than Weber or Baerman quintets, but I think Finzi is the best option.
Ivan
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2008-07-16 21:08
fantasmacantos said:
"Brahms quintet works better than Weber or Baerman quintets, but I think Finzi is the best option."
Really? With no disrespect to the Weber/Baermann quintets at all, the Brahms is top quality chamber music - a team effort of five players. The Weber and Baermann both give a much more soloististic/concerto like role to the clarinet. I can't ever remember seeing the Brahms quintet programmed with orchestra...only thing that comes close is the Berio orchestration of the F minor sonata.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2008-07-16 22:17
Think I'd pass on doing a transcription or quintet. I prefer playing things in their original instrumentation... I'm weird like that. In any case, the Copland is out.
Having another listen, I'm not as crazy about the Finzi as many here seem to be... will keep it on the list as a standby. Now off to find sound samples for the others...
Keep em coming!
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-07-17 04:11
Here are a few more to check out:
Rivier, Concerto (urbane, witty -- in a word, French)
Mihalovici, Musique Nocturne
Francaix, Tema con Variazioni (in version for clarinet and 11 strings)
Karl Amadeus Hartmann, Kammerkonzert for Clarinet, String Quartet and String Orchestra (Schott) Recorded by Paul Meyer. (IMO, a very good piece.)
I'll also mention that Matyas Seiber is not French. Rather he was a German who fled to England to escape the Nazis. His Concertino has been recorded a couple of times.
For something a little lighter with a Latin flavor, there is the Daniel Wolff Concerto. You can hear a recording of the work by Gary Dranch here:
http://www.mp3.com.au/GaryDranch/Music
Score and parts are available from the composer.
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2008-07-17 04:13)
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Author: fantasmacantos
Date: 2008-07-18 16:15
I know from performances of the Brahms quintet in an string-orchestral version, in Europe, in Canada, in Mexico. And it works better than Berio's orchestral version of the first sonata, and than Webers and Baermans. However, Alex do prefer an original work.
For Alex: I didnt remember the Wolff concerto that Jak mentioned, I strongly recommend it if you dont want the Finzi.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2008-07-18 19:52
Graham. No mine is an evening an evening concert. As well as the premier i'll also be doing something else which has yet to be decided. I'll get my CD out of the way first. Do come if you can.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Jbrd389
Date: 2008-07-20 20:35
Something new for clarinet and strings? I'd think about Osvaldo Golijov's heavily klezmer influenced Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind. Originally for string quartet and clarinet, the composer arranged the piece for string orchestra a couple years ago. You'd have to play bass clarinet, basset horn, and C clarinet as well. But the piece is stunning. Something to think about, or dream about.
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Author: Brianj
Date: 2008-07-21 00:47
Go to Rick Sowash's clarinet page, www.sowash.com. He has a brand new Clarinet Concerto on there, recording plus free download of the clarinet part. It is a very nice piece, and not too difficult for the clarinet and the strings. Give it a look.
SSG Brian Jungen
399th Army Band
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2008-07-21 06:42
I'm not sure the Finzi would work with such a small string group. I think that kind of lush romantic music needs a fuller string sound. But maybe some of the posters have played it with a group like that? (Alex has a string group of approx 5/4/3/2/2). I'd be interested to hear peoples experiences.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2008-07-21 06:47
The Sowash is nice (and what a nicely designed website he has)... the piece has winds and percussion, unfortunately, otherwise I might look into it. Unless you're referring to the concerto for cello, clarinet and strings, which might be worth looking into also...
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-07-21 07:03
EEBaum wrote:
> The Sowash is nice (and what a nicely designed website he
> has)... the piece has winds and percussion
My reaction to the Sowash Clarinet Concerto was lukewarm.
The middle movement starts with an alluring theme, although the movement eventually tries to do too much and wanders aimlessly, before coming to a lyrical closing.
The 1st and 3rd movements are hurt by thick overscoring where the solo clarinet is totally obliterated numerous times by the full orchestra. I also don't see the point of the needless playing of sustined tones during many of the orchestral tuttis. Again, like the middle movement, the themes and counterthemes are too diverse. Both movements suffer from being repetitive and too long. I found myself losing interest - even during the first hearing.
Some selected pruning and editing might have made this piece much more enjoyable ...GBK
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Author: Brianj
Date: 2008-07-21 13:35
Forgot another one. Go to the Clarinet Institute of Los Angelas site and check out the Tim Knight Concerto. It it a nice piece as well.
SSG Brian Jungen
399th Army Band
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-07-21 16:55
I only find the first two movements of the Knight Concerto (midi performances) at the Clarinet Institute website, along with a composer's website link that doesn't work.
All three movements in both midi and pdf files (full score) are available here:
http://www.free-scores.com/Download-PDF-Sheet-Music-Tim-Knight.htm
You have to decide for yourself, Alex but, after listening to a couple of the movements, I did a quick scan of the scores. I don't think Knight takes much advantage of the clarinet's capabilities, nor do I think he challenges the clarinetist much. Of course the midi tempos may be way off. It's hard to tell because the first movement has no tempo marking, the second is simply marked "Giocoso" and the third is simply marked "Melancholy." While listening to the third movement, I was looking at the score and the website with Knight's other music. I forgot that I had my player set on automatic repeat. I don't know how many times it cycled through before I realized it was not simply interminably long. The point is that there wasn't enough variation in the movement, particularly between the beginning and end, to catch my attention during the repetition.
The entire piece appears to spend almost all its time between E4 and A5, with only the occasional foray up to D6 or down to C4! Rhythmically, it's quite basic. To me, it looks as though it should be sight-readable for a decent college student. That doesn't make it a "bad" piece of music, of course, but I suspect you are looking for something more challenging.
Glenn, I have to admit I had the same reaction to the Sowash Concerto as you, though I could never have given such a cogent analysis of the reasons -- my reaction was more gut feel. I was a little surprised because I have enjoyed much of his work in the past. I have three or four CD's of his music and, over the years, I've bought sheet music for numerous works from him. I was disappointed listening to the Concerto, however, and even more disappointed when I read through the work. I wonder if the scope of such an undertaking was simply beyond his capabilities. But, and I apologize if I offend anyone's sensitivities here (this is after all a matter of personal taste), I have to say that compared to the Jim Parker "Concerto," I consider the Sowash a masterpiece.
Best regards,
jnk
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