 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: RaccoonRecon
Date: 2009-01-22 04:33
Which would you guys rather play? Principle on Shosta 5? or Principle on Tchaik 4? as far as solos go?
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2009-01-22 16:02
If you actually have the choice, the best way to decide would be for you to listen to recordings of each symphony. They each have exposed solo passages and are each in their own ways enjoyable pieces to play. It would take maybe an hour and a half of listening time.
Karl
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2009-01-22 16:56
Playing in orchestra is not all about the solos. I think you need to look at the bigger picture.
These two symphonies are cornerstones of the symphonic repertoire because of their history. The Shostakovich is probably his greatest 'war' symphony. Tchaikovsky's 4 deals with fate and the composers obsession with it which can be seen in his late symphonies. 4=Fate, 5=Providence from fate and the 6th sorrowfulness.
In order to understand what you are playing it is wise to investigate it first.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: cearnsh
Date: 2009-01-23 12:26
I've wanted to play principal in Shostakovich 5 for nearly 4 decades, ever since I played the 2nd part in my home town orchestra long ago. When we performed it recently in my current orchestra I had to play Eb as the other two members of the section don't have the necessary hardware, so I missed out again! Coincidentally, this term we're playing Tchaik. 4.
Both are wonderful pieces of music - but my personal vote is still for the Shostakovitch. Perhaps in another 40 years...
Incidentally, Shostakovich 5 is not a 'war symphony'. It was written in 1937 with the subtitle "A Soviet Artist's Response to Justified Criticism" and was perhaps Shostakovich's last chance to extricate himself from the desperate situation he was in as a result of the Soviet authorities' response to some of his earlier works, notably 'Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk'.
Chris
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2009-01-23 15:39
I agree with Cig - you seem obsessed with solos. To answer your question, there are plenty of places to shine in either work. The first clarinet parts to both are wonderful - professional auditions regularly include both.
More important, for my consideration, would be the conductor and the players around me. Not all conductors "get" Shostakovich, from my experience (one conductor vastly improved when I lent him a Mravinsky recording after a particularly bad rehearsal). Shostakovich with a weak brass section would be a disaster, as would the Tchaikovsky with mediocre strings.
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