 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2009-12-21 05:52
Hello,
I know there is already a few threads to be found with the search button, but I was hoping to get some opinions on some other pieces
I was trying to find a Classical or Romantic Era piece (or earlier) for bass clarinet solo (with or without piano). I have been recommended the Brahms clarinet sonatas by a few people. Personally I have listened to the Spohr concerto and thought those would be quite a whirl on bass clarinet. Another I had considered was the Borodin Cello Sonata.
I will say I am a little tired of the Bach suites.
Is there any "traditional" pieces you fellow bass clarinetists have played and been rather successful with? (say, anyone have success with the Weber pieces on bass clarinet? I did play his Andante and Hungarian Rondo for Viola and that was a blast.)
I am trying to avoid modern pieces right now as last semester I had a heavy dose of them and this coming semester I have quite a bit of modern stuff in the plans already. I am planning to do the "Developing Hues" by Cynthia Folio for flute and bass clarinet, as well as the Ketting "Trio" for Flute, Bass clarinet, and Piano, that was written for Sparnaay and his trio. I also have a piece for bass clarinet and bassoon from Chad Wozniak and another from him for bass clarinet and bassoon with string quartet.
On a separate note, (preferably staccato...) For Bb Soprano clarinet, has any heard/know of a recording of the Rimsky-Korsakov Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Band? (or know of a piano reduction for it?) I see it on IMSLP and it looks like a fun little piece, but I have never seen it anywhere else.
Perhaps he wouldn't mind me making a piano reduction and playing it on bass at that...
Sorry for the long post!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-12-21 06:29
USFBassClarinet wrote:
> On a separate note, (preferably staccato...) For Bb Soprano
> clarinet, has any heard/know of a recording of the
> Rimsky-Korsakov Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Band? (or know
> of a piano reduction for it?)
The Rimsky-Korsakov Concerto in Eb for clarinet and military band is on my short list of the worst pieces in the clarinet repertoire.
It is seldom, if ever performed. Listen to it and you'll soon see why.
It is just barely surpassed in "awfulness" by the Mendelssohn clarinet sonata...GBK
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Author: salzo
Date: 2009-12-21 12:07
"I will say I am a little tired of the Bach suites."
Really? I think you are missing something. A lot of great music in those suites, I read that Pablo Casals played a Bach suite every morning.
there is a transcription of "The Eccles Sonata" that works quite nice on the bass clarinet. I believe it was originally written for bass violin and piano
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2009-12-21 15:07
Have you ever done the Othmar Schoeck bass clarinet sonata? It's not from the classical or romatic eras, but it is pleasant music.
As far as the Rimsky-Korsakov concerto is concerned, I don't think it deserves all the scorn that it receives. I played it in high school and enjoyed it. It isn't "great" music, and I will never claim it is. Still, it has it's moments. The second movement, while not being the most profound music you've ever heard, has some very pleasant moments and catchy melodies. I'm not sure that I'd include it on a recital or play it for a jury, but if you're thinking about playing it as a soloist for a band concert (particularly on a concert of lighter music), I think it would go over very well.
You might also consider some pieces that were written for either clarinet or cello. The Schumann Fantasy Pieces come to mind. How about the Vaughan-Williams "Six Studies in English Folksong?" These were originally written for cello, but are often played on the clarinet. Another idea is Paul Ben Haim's "Three Songs Without Words," a selection that is performed on a wide variety of instruments ranging from cello to alto and tenor sax.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2009-12-21 16:12
There are a few recordings of the Rimsky-Korsakov. You can find it performed by Anthony Gigliotti on Rhapsody:
http://www.rhapsody.com/
Search for "clarinet band" without the quotes. Click on "See all 99 tracks." Then scroll down until you find Temple University. Your computer will probably be allowed 25 free tracks when you first access the site. You can also sign up for a free subscription that (in theory) allows you 25 free tracks per month. (I think that's still available.)
There is also a recording on Chandos.
The Monti Czardas is fun on bass clarinet.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2009-12-21 17:07
Nice to know about the Rimsky concerto GBK...I can stop wondering about it now :D
Salzo
I just about play the Bach suites every morning too...and so does every bassoon player and bari sax player at USF. At some point, it gets boring hearing them.
I was actually played the Eccles some time ago. Maybe it needs some reviving.
Clarinetguy
I am trying to 'save' the Schoeck for my recital next year. and considering stuff that was written for clarinet or cello...I wrote a few of them I had considered...but it seems no one thinks anything at all of them I guess.
The Vaugh-Williams I think I will give a look at. I had nightmares about it for awhile after I went to a recital at another college and it was...........(if I put enough dots maybe it gives an answer)
Thanks for the link Kissinger.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-12-21 18:22
I second GBK on both counts.
The Kovacs Hommages have several nice pieces that would work well on the bass. I've performed the Khatschaturian a few times, there's a recording of a live performance on my web site page along with one of the Mendelssohn concert pieces I transcribed for bass clarinet from the basset horn part. There's a few other pieces on there too including the Sonata in A minor by Marcello, works well too and the Ballade by Bozza, my favorite. I believe the Weber Concertino works well on bass as will the Hindemith Sonata, though that's not romantic of course but it's not "modern" either. Also the Schubert "Arpeggione" would work well with a little editing perhaps , there are few transcriptions in print, and the Saint Saens Sonata works well on bass, much better than the Brahms, somehow Brahms on the bass clarinet, well maybe? There used to be an arrangement of the Mozart Bassoon Concerto for bass but probably no longer in print, perhaps that's a good thing. There's an arrangement of Max Bruch Kol Nidrei for clarinet and piano by Salinger, pub. by Roncorp, very nice on bass. You could stop at letter E or go on if you like. Or you can transcribe one of the Brahms cello sonata's if your ambitious enough. Good luck, ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2009-12-21 19:05
the Saint Saens might be fun to do on bass. I had actually listened to the Mozart Bassoon concerto and already decided against it :D Although Alea does publish the Weber Bassoon for bass clarinet now. As well, I have about played out the Bozza and Marcello.
Thanks for all the responses...Keep'em coming if anyone else has something that works well.
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2009-12-21 23:58
Spohr wrote an adagio for bassoon and piano (an arrangement from one of his violin sonatas) that would probably work well for bass cl.
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2009-12-22 01:43
Anyone know anything about the Galliard Six Sonatas? I have seen it pop up on a few lists, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Are they worth doing? and if so, where can I find them? It has been discontinued in the Luyben catalog.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-12-22 03:36
They're OK, nothing great. They come in two books of 3 each. Published by McGinnis and Marx. There's also some short pieces in the Concert and Contest collection by Voxman pub. by Rubank. ESP
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2009-12-22 05:05
Maybe I should have asked this originally as well... Anyone here ever tried to get anything from Donemus Publishing into the U.S.? I always hear or see pieces I want to play but they are only published by them. Or do they have an unknown US affiliate? I remember emailing them once and never heard back from them, so I never attempting anything else. (and I always assumed it would be quite expensive just for a piece of music.)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-12-24 13:40
When I was in high school and needed to play solos on bass clarinet, I just played standard Bb soprano clarinet repertoire (sounding an octave lower, of course). Is there anything wrong with doing this? Could one perform a bass clarinet recital doing, for example, a Brahms Sonata, or the Bernstein Concerto, etc. on bass clarinet and not be considered tasteless or some sort of blasphemer?
I'm thinking that playing soprano clarinet repertoire on bass clarinet is morally no worse than, say, playing the Khatchaturian Violin Concerto on flute, as has been done.
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2009-12-25 05:03
@ David. I have played some clarinet pieces on Bass and even asked about a few in the length of this thread. But I get the general consensus (or maybe not...) that it is preferable to play Cello or Bassoon pieces since you get more of the low range.
Anyone play the Alfred Prinz Bass Clarinet Sonata? I have heard some of his other pieces and liked them, but haven't found a recording of this particular one.
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Author: Connor
Date: 2009-12-26 21:16
The Cesar Franck Sonate for Violin in A major is often played by cellists and flutists. There is a great recording of Todd Oxford (of the Harvy Pittel Quartet) playing this piece on Bari Sax. Why not try it on bass clarinet?
MM. Clarinet Performance University of Texas at Austin (2012).
BM. Clarinet Performance University of Northern Colorado (2010).
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Author: Bclarigirl17
Date: 2016-09-08 02:39
Would anyone happen to know where I might be able to acquire a copy of the bass clarinet transcription of the Hindemith Bassoon Sonata? I've been searching through the usual sheet music sites but none of them have any for bass clarinet.
Thanks,
MEgan
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