 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-09-18 06:29
One of my advanced students has been asked to play a half hour recital for a small audience (about 50 people) in a small meeting room (similar to a library meeting room)
He has worked up a nice program:
Mozart Violin Sonata K.304 (transcribed for clarinet and piano)
Gordon Jacob - 5 Pieces for Clarinet (unaccompanied)
Albeniz - Tango
Brahms - Eb Sonata (Op. 120 Number 2)
There is no stage, so he and the pianist will perform very close to the audience.
Noting the intimate nature of this small recital he would very much like to sit, rather than stand.
Ok or not?
...GBK
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2009-09-18 06:38
Do it in the round with the piano and clarinet in the middle of the room. Clarinet is fine sitting.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2009-09-18 08:23
Stand, it's a duo recital regardless of where it is. If you sit in the round of the piano there will be no communication between clarinettist and pianist.
The audience will surely want to see him as will his parents etc.
I would suggest that sitting for recitals is for groups of three or more though that's not exculsive. I once did a clarinet quartet recital stood and indeed a wind octet.
Being close to the audience is good, it allows the performers to bring the audience into their world and experience the music with them. I've done enough of these to realise the audience prefer the intimate venues as well as the big ones.
Nice programme, I'm performing the Jacob pieces in a few weeks, musically tricky as of course the Brahms.
Good luck
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-09-18 10:31
Definitely stand if he's the only solo player in this recital.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2009-09-18 10:43
In what configuration do these performers sound best, Glenn? Maybe I'm a bit of a purist but I would think that to be the most important criteria.
Since many, if not most audiences tend to "listen with their eyes", that consideration needn't be paramount.
If one's objective is to be true to the composer and the quality of the music making, it seems to me that the decision to sit or stand would be a relatively straightforward one.
Of course it depends on the individual performer, but in general, I've observed that the clarinet sounds better while played sitting.
Gregory Smith
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2009-09-18 11:06
Gregory Smith wrote:
>
> Of course it depends on the individual performer, but in
> general, I've observed that the clarinet sounds better while
> played sitting.
>
>
Why is that Gregory? When I've done chamber music recitals and orchestral things in the past I've had comments that I shouldn't play with the bell between my legs as in muffles the sound. Of course I know that in certain situations that's good if your playing second or trying to keep out of the way of a leading voice.
I'm just curious to know why you think that.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: 2E
Date: 2009-09-18 13:14
Sitting with good posture enables the clarinettist to breath properly as the lower half of the body is pretty much grounded. Standing can sometimes lead to nervous movement which can be destructive to proper breathing technique, especially amongst students. I prefer to sit when i practise or perform in ensemble however for recital I would stand.
2E
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2009-09-18 13:37
Then by all means, Peter - if it sounds better to stand in your case, that would seem to be the way to go.
My observations have little to do with whether one is playing a second voice or resting one's bell on top of the knees (although the bell resting in between the legs or knees does pose some obvious timbre and intonation problems).
My comments have more to do with how the clarinet sounds to my ear (from the audience) when it is closer to the floor due to how the sound interacts with the reflection from the floor and how it interacts with the body seated in a chair before it travels to the listener. I don't know the technical reasons for this except to speculate as I do.
In most cases that I've observed, the sound of a properly seated clarinetist with good posture is more focused, fuller, colorful, even, and more resonant, whereas a standing clarinetist can generally sound good too, but a bit thinner and can lean toward more stridency, especially in the upper register and at greater dynamic levels.
The only way to determine this for one's self is to do a simple A/B comparison. It should be fairly clear which way sounds better in each individual case.
Gregory Smith
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2009-09-18 13:39
We need not make rules there.
If the student is more comfortable sitting, then let him sit. The musical outcome is probably going to be directly proportional to his comfort level.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: davyd
Date: 2009-09-18 14:26
Can we find some middle ground? How about if he sits on a high stool: 24" or 30" tall, depending on his height and comfort level.
This program looks to be more than 30 minutes, at least if he's doing all the movements of all of the works.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2009-09-18 15:58
Thanks Gregory for the reply. I always do my duo recitals standing everything else seated, unless of course it's a concerto.
Obviously there is no right or wrong, I was just interested in your thoughts.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-09-18 17:16
First let me way that the recital is a very long half hour of music. Together with the length of the music, swabbing, applause etc. this will be longer than a half hour.
I always prefer to stand too because I think it looks better and for me feels better BUT, and it's a big BUT. I know many professionals that prefer to sit. I believe that Harold Wright used to sit, correctly if I'm wrong. I've heard others debate this topic but the bottom line is how does the player, pro, student or whatever, feel they will play their best. If they want to sit then let them sit, if they want to stand, let them stand. It's how they play that counts the most.
I do sit when I play a bass clarinet solo because I'm not comfortable standing and I think it looks funny with a bass clarinet yet many bass soloists do stand either with a back support or very large peg, which I think really looks funny but it's what comes out the horn that's the bottom line. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-09-19 11:09
Ah, yes, davyd, I was thinking "high stool" when you said it.....easy transition to standing position occasionally
Bob Draznik
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Author: Ron
Date: 2009-09-19 11:27
Several excellent responses above to your question. Think of your question another way. First of all there are no set rules about sitting or standing in such a situation. Yes, many clarinetists stand during such a performance. However, when you go to a symphony orchestra concert, the clarinetists are sitting and sound great. Keep the following in mind: I lived in Boston during the early 1970's. I saw Harold Wright play the Mozart Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Symphony Hall. Mr. Wright not only sat in a chair in front of the orchestra but he also used the music. This is no way detracted from his marvelous performance. As musicians we have to figure out what works best for us from the mouthpiece/reed/instrument set-up to sitting, standing, etc. Do what is comfortable and works best for you at this time and don't look back. Also keep in mind that as you continue to play and perform in the future, you can always change.
Ron
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-09-19 12:01
I like the Harold Wright story.
I also am compelled to add, though not entirely germaine, a story that I heard the other night on NPR. Apparently the inaugural concert given by the New York Philharmonic was done with the entire orchestra standing the full 2 and a half hour concert. This was a practice all the rage in Germany at the time and 80% of the NY Phils ranks was from Germany.
Go figure.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2009-09-19 13:54
RE: sitting while playing.
David's comment - "I know though that double lippers need to do that."
I think this blanket statement needs comment and needs to be questioned.
Why do you think double lippers "need" to sit while playing?
I play double lip and stand while playing recitals and concerts.
Until recently, Richard Stoltzman (a long-time DL player) stood while playing.
I know other DL players that stand or sit depending on the situation.
Yes, some DL players prefer to sit while playing, but I just wanted to clear up the idea that a DL player would "Need" to play that way.
Tom Piercy
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2009-09-19 19:12
I'll chime in on the student's comfort...
How ever the student feels most comfortable will reflect how well they perform. And it could be that he/she stands for certain pieces and sits for others.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-09-19 20:32
I'm an amateur musician, but also an experienced member of audiences. Whether performers sit or stand has no bearing on what I think of the performance, and I've seen pros perform both ways. I do notice (and care about) whether or not the performers seem to be communicating with each other. Even if the pianist is "only" an accompanist for a given piece of music, he or she is an important part of the success of the recital. For this program, the Brahms sonata calls for an equal partnership and I think it's a nice gesture if the clarinet player can sit, placing the pianist on an equal level.
But, an even more important factor is one the musicians may not be able to control. The layout of a room with a grand piano in it can't always be modified for the musicians' convenience, especially in a private home. That layout will determine whether the musicians can make better eye contact with the clarinet player at the same level (seated) as the pianist or with the clarinet player standing, for example, in the curve of a grand piano and looking back and down at the pianist over the pianist's music rack. I think it's important to know, before making a firm decision, where the piano will be and how much room (how many alternatives) the clarinet player will have, in relationship to the rest of the furniture and to the audience.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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