 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matthew Moran
Date: 2008-11-29 19:12
For fun I decided to have ago at Prelude from Suite No. 1 for unaccompanied cello, arranged for clarinet.
A quick sightread through later, the notes are easy but it sounds horrid! After some work the problem persits.
The problem is, most probably due flaws in my technique, when moving between registers many of my notes have a horrible harsh start, most often when an A above middle C is involved. I'm finding it difficult to change my embouchure, stomach muscles and airflow quickly enough between the chalameu and clarion.
Also, I am finding the penultimate sequence which maintains a G every other note while moving up the chromatic scale very difficult.
Any advice, good practises or hints?
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-11-29 20:28
What arrangement are you using? (I just took the 'original' from Mutopiaproject.org and transposed it so that it goes down to low F (or E, can't remember right now)).
Anyhow, does the problem persist while playing legato? I found out that I must keep the air going, with or without a tone, else I'd get that ugly grunt when attacking certain notes.
Per the last sequence - scale interleaved with G - I didn't find it difficult except from a concentration standpoint. No change in embouchure needed here, just play and get going. (the challenge is not to breathe over the whole riff)
I think this is an excellent piece for daily practice, and even if you feel some improvement every day, it could keep you busy for years on end.
BTW - aren't you the chap with the bass clarinet? How did it go?
--
Ben
Post Edited (2008-11-29 20:29)
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Author: davetrow
Date: 2008-11-30 02:22
Ben, did you use Lilypond to transpose it? I just downloaded the program and am a little lost. If you wouldn't mind, could you tell me the command string you used to help me get started?
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
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Author: davidsampson
Date: 2008-11-30 03:07
Open the file for the cello part. Enclose all of the actual notes in
\transpose c d {
music stuffs
}
That would transpose a C part to a Bb instrument, as it moves everything up a whole step (from c to d). You can change that to whatever you want. Also, you might want to change the clef to treble. look for \clef bass, and change bass to treble. Save all this and then 'lilypond file.ly'
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-11-30 11:13
...what davidsampson said.
I just took the bwv1007-cello.ly file, saved it as 'bwv1007-BbBassClar.ly' and edited the individual sections in that file thusly:
\score { { \clef "violin" \transpose c es { \prelude } }
\layout { %{ Use LilyPond defaults %} }
\header { piece = "Prélude" }
(I transposed it so that the lowest note would be Eb to make sure it doesn't get any lower. I don't mind the absolute pitch of the piece, I just wanted to make sure everything is within reach)
When in Windows, it suffices to double-click that .ly file.
If someone wants a .pdf with transpositions to Clarinet (down to low F and Eb), send me an email...
--
Ben
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2008-11-30 16:21
Matthew Moran wrote:
>>I'm finding it difficult to change my embouchure, stomach muscles and airflow quickly enough between the chalameu and clarion.
Don't change those things. That would make it more difficult. It's very likely that you've been at some level compensating for either slight inconsistencies in your fingers or an instrument in disrepair. Keep the airstream and embouchre steady and make sure your fingers are completely accurate.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Sambo 933
Date: 2008-11-30 22:42
I used this piece for an audition recently and will probably use it for another in a couple months because I really enjoy playing it and have so far impressed my clarinet teacher and a few judges .
It is a difficult piece.
The quick jumping between registers requires a well developed embouchure, and a good horn, that is to say that I cannot imagine trying to play this song (seriously) on a horn that has bad response. Also finger placement is crucial. Make sure your fingers are all moving together and not bumping other keys.
Also remember that the song was not originally intended for clarinet and depending on your arr. it may be necessary to make some minor adjustments. The arr. i have was taken directly form the original, the only change the arranger made was changing the bow lifts to breath marks. I slur a lot of the notes and add a pause here and there to breath.
It is a very fun piece, but very hard to perfect. Cannot say that i have played it perfectly, but it is a great piece to practice daily to improve technique and a good way to get exposed to baroque music. If anyone needs an arr. of it i find mine on 8notes.com(if you print it as a gif file its free.)
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Author: davetrow
Date: 2008-12-01 02:02
Thanks for the pointers, David and Ben. What finally worked for me was:
\score { { \clef "violin" \transpose c f { \prelude } }
That got it into a range that works for the soprano Bb (and puts it in the key of C).
The notation is still bizarre in places, but playable.
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
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Author: davetrow
Date: 2008-12-01 04:59
I figured out the notation problems, too: it was polyphonic note beams (measures 33 through 36), and fairly easy to correct. (LilyTools and jEdit make things a lot easier!)
But now, of course, I get to the hard part: actually practicing the music.
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
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Author: Matthew Moran
Date: 2008-12-01 23:04
thankyou for the advice!
To some extent a dodgy reed was at fault. A quick swap later and I find an immediate improvement - Some of it is my fingers brushing against other keys. Hopefully practise will sort that out.
The biggest problem perhaps is the clarinet or my embouchure. I can't attack the first B above the C (or any of the little finger keys really) - No matter how fast the airflow is or how high the pressure, or how I contort my gob, I can't make a sharp attack on it - It sort of fades in. Am I compensating for an inferior/faulty instrument? Or is it bad habit? or both?
I use a Yamaha 4C mouthpiece with Vandoren 2.5 reeds, a Rovner dark ligature on a yamaha 450 clarinet - Pretty bog standard student setup.
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Author: Sambo 933
Date: 2008-12-02 21:38
depending on how long you've been playing the first thing i would suggest would be to start using harder reeds. I had been playing for little more than a year when I started using 3's. I've never tried playing the piece with any thing softer than a 4 but I can't imagine it not making a difference, in the phrase with the alternation between throat g and an ascending chromatic scale especially.
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