 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: abcclarinet
Date: 2008-12-02 21:23
I'm playing a prepared piece for District Band but I'm not sure what tempo I should take it at. It says 'with exuberance' at the top and the piece has a bunch of sixteenth notes.
... any suggestions?
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Author: Sambo 933
Date: 2008-12-02 21:30
hmmm... for district band in Georgia there is no prepared piece, just scales and sight reading...from my experience judges love confidence so don't be shy
as far as tempo (if its not marked) then I'm not really sure what "with exuberance" means but it's possible that they will give the tempo the want you to play it at. the only thing i can think of is that it might be like an "Espressivo" marking so to play "with expression" sry if that doesn't help much.
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Author: clariknight
Date: 2008-12-02 21:35
With exuberance sounds like a faster marking. I mean, it doesn't really make much sense to play something really slow "with exuberance." take it at a comfortable speed that doesn't sound too draggy. Maybe a solid alegretto.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-12-02 21:46
What is the piece? Is it a performance work or a study? Chances are somebody's seen it before.
"Exuberant" is not a tempo, it's a mood or style. (joyous, unrestrained) The mere existence of 16th notes doesn't tell us anything by itself. However, the word "exuberant" suggests that it is over-the-top, excessive, unrestrained--although this is still a suggestion of mood or style, not tempo. Exuberance in this context probably means fast. It *might* mean an over-the-top, no-holds-barred sort of speed, but it more likely refers to "excessive" energy and excitement than "excessive" speed. If you play too fast, you can cross the line from exuberant to frantic.
If I was performing this for anything but district band, I'd just play it at whatever tempo allowed me to make the music overflow with joy and excitement.
HOWEVER, because you're playing for district band, you should check with a teacher or band director and find out if the district band people have a recommended range of tempos to follow. If they do, make sure you follow them.
When I was in high school, I got knocked points at one of these auditions for playing a tempo outside the recommended range, so if there is a tempo guideline, follow it. If you don't you are simply giving the judge(s) (who may very well be the teachers and directors of your competition) an excuse to deduct points from your score (and they will, especially if they can tell you are not their student--don't think playing behind a screen prevents this). Counterintuitive as it may sound, don't make the fast pieces too fast or the slow pieces too slow.
Post Edited (2008-12-04 15:01)
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Author: abcclarinet
Date: 2008-12-02 22:33
Thanks for all the input! I think I'll set my metronome to 120
mrn- the prepared piece for district band was specifically made for it
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