 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: karlbonner82
Date: 2010-05-13 07:15
It's commonly said that clarinets are the "violins" of a symphonic band, which seems to say they are the backbone of such an ensemble. Trouble is, much symphonic band repertoire is symphonic in name only, so that the style and texture doesn't resemble the string section of an orchestra that much. (And school "concert band" repertoire is, IMO, terrible! More concerned with marches and pep songs at football/basketball games than with fine arts...)
So I'm wondering if you know of any recordings that are especially good at showing off the clarinet section of the symphonic band? I'd imagine the clarinet section would have to be very large in order for it to comprise a large chunk of the sound volume. Definitely if I were a school music teacher, I'd promote the clarinet to beginning students as a bread-and-butter instrument. It should be by far the largest section in the whole band - much, much larger than the saxophone or trumpet or even the flute section!
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Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2010-05-13 08:43
I would say one of the most difficult pieces for woodwinds in a concert band in general is definitely Dionysiaques by Florent Schmitt. That really shows off the woodwinds, including clarinets.
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Author: Ryan K
Date: 2010-05-13 14:42
I hate when people knock the symphonic band repertoire! There is so much good literature out there, being composed right now. John Mackey is a great example. This piece is an incredibly fun piece for clarinets, and feels very orchestral.
http://ostimusic.com/audio/King-2.m3u
His website has a bunch of great music for wind ensemble. Dave Maslanka is a name that also comes to my mind, as does Eric Whitacre.
Ryan Karr
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
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Author: A Brady
Date: 2010-05-13 15:40
This is an amazing recording of the Eastman Wind Ensemble:
http://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Band-180g-33RPM-LP/dp/B001DUL69U/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1273764677&sr=8-14
It appears to only be available on vinyl (LP), and consists of transcriptions of Wagner for symphonic band (wind ensemble.) Fantastic group, and the clarinet playing is marvelous (I understand the section at the time included Larry Combs and Elsa Ludwig (Verdehr), among others.)
All of the Frederick Fennell/Eastman Wind Ensemble recordings have beautiful clarinet section playing in a wind context.
AB
AB
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2010-05-13 16:22
We just did the Fennel piece at USF, how fun it was (and hard). We also did Maslanka symphony #8. In a page here on Woodwind.org there is a 'suggested list of band music' somewhere. It lists most of the great classic Wind Ensemble literature.
As for a good sounding clarinet section in one....Find a close college with a school of music and go to a concert. Check the local library. My library here has tons of wind ensemble CD's.
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2010-05-13 16:41
The original question pertained to recordings, so here is my favorite:
"Shepherd's Hey" wind music by Percy Grainger, Milhaud, etc., performed by the London Wind Orchestra under Denis Wick. I believe Jack Brymer heads up the clarinet section on this recording.
http://www.amazon.com/Shepherds-Hey-Percy-Grainger/dp/B0000030Y4
A must for any fan of wind music and especially any clarinetist.
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2010-05-13 17:47
A. Brady's post re: Eastman Wind Ensemble is a smart one.
Consider this CD, as well:
It's Eastman, under Frederick Fennell, playing the Suite from Pineapple Poll (a wonderful arrangement from the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas), as well as terrific selections by Gounod, Rossini, Respighi and Wagner. A nice variety pack. But any of Eastman's recordings are worth listening to.
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2010-05-13 18:42
If you can get hold of it somewhere, the recording of the U. of Michigan Band under Revelli recorded during their USSR and Middle East tour in (I think) 1961 has a track with the entire clarinet section playing the Weber 2d clarinet concerto Polacca in unison, not to mention several other pieces with stunning clarinet contributions.
One may dismiss the unison Polacca as a bit of fluff or granstanding, but when you hear an entire clarinet section sounding as if it is one player, you have to appreciate the skill and work put into it, at least.
The LP is Vanguard Stereolab VSD 2124, if that helps. I haven't checked to see if it's available as a disc or download. I see there's a YouTube link for it, though, along with a link for Elsa's Procession from the same album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbmL8ogtuhs
B.
Post Edited (2010-05-13 20:15)
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Author: A Brady
Date: 2010-05-13 19:25
Eugene F. Gonzalez was principal clarinet on the UM recording of the Polacca, and on the USSR tour.
He was my teacher when I was still in Florida (he was clarinet professor at UWF from 1967 until his untimely death in 1987.) This recording of the entire section playing the Weber is awfully good, and Doctor G spoke fondly of that tour and his experiences at Michigan under Dr Revelli.
I played in the clarinet choir at one of the clarinet conferences at the University of Denver back in the 70's, and Dr Revelli was the conductor. During a break, I mentioned that I had studied with Gene Gonzalez, and Revelli beamed, saying, "he was the finest clarinetist that ever played for me." High praise indeed from this tough, old-school conductor.
The Michigan band recordings from the Revelli era are all well worth checking out, if available.
AB
AB
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Author: ColeHanson
Date: 2010-05-14 00:51
As a huge band geek, I thought I would get in on this and recommend----
Maslanka's 4th Symphony
Maslanka- A Child's Garden of Dreams
Grainger- Molly on the Shore, Lincolnshire Posy, Children's March, etc.
These aren't necessarily clarinet features, and I think it's faulty to compare a symphonic band/wind ensemble to an orchestra as they are completely different mediums. The clarinets are NOT the violin equivalents, although in certain transcriptions they are given the violin lines. Rather, the whole ensemble works to create an equally balanced sound with no section overpowering...as the strings do in an orchestra. All of the above pieces have been recorded by the Dallas Wind Symphony- easily one of the best bands in the world- and you can go to their website for more information.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2010-05-14 02:23
search amazon.com for 'north texas wind symphony'
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: karlbonner82
Date: 2010-05-14 11:16
I guess my real gripe with symphonic band repertoire is that it's rarely heard outside the concert halls. So at times the music, even if really beautiful, feels like a dead end - symphonic band for its own sake.
When it comes to sound texture, symphonic bands seem to always blend everything together so that (frequently but not always), you can't get the same delicate color of an orchestra's woodwind section. The tone is also much "heavier" than orchestral tone, and this can make it hard to get a really "crisp" sense of articulation, rhythm, and moving parts; For whatever reason, the ear has a notorious tendency to blur away the distinctions when confronted with this particular sound regime.
Symphonic bands can be really beautiful but I think they need to work more on their note separation, given what I've said above.
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Author: GLHopkins
Date: 2010-05-14 15:48
Karl, you need to do some listening. Put your 78s away and get some CDs. You'd be amazed at what's available.
I prefer listening to orchestras, because I like the tinny sound of the strings, but good wind ensembles offer just as much variation in colors as an orchestra.
Post Edited (2010-05-14 15:52)
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Author: ColeHanson
Date: 2010-05-14 15:54
I feel like if you heard Maslanka's 4th Symphony as played by the Dallas Wind Symphony, you would change your mind, or any of the great band masterworks for that matter.
I don't really see your point in the "just heard inside the concert hall comment." Orchestral music is rarely heard outside the concert hall as well, no?
Also, there tends to be a difference between "Symphonic Band" which implies a larger number of players and the "Wind Ensemble" which is close to one on a part. I therefore disagree about your statement of orchestral vs. wind ensemble woodwind sections. Go listen to some of these pieces.
And as far as note separation goes..that depends completely on the players, not the medium itself, and does a string section of 50 always have crisp clear articulation?
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Author: fontan29
Date: 2010-05-14 16:31
For really good clarinet parts, check out:
Holst- First Suite in Eb
Dahl- Sinfonietta
William Bolcom- Song
Donald Grantham- Southern Harmony
Joseph Turrin- Lullaby for Noah
For best recordings, check out anything with the Michigan Symphony Band and the University of Texas Wind Ensemble. You can find some of their recordings on youtube.
Post Edited (2010-05-14 16:32)
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Author: mrn
Date: 2010-05-14 21:13
I second the recommendation of Dahl's Sinfonietta--lots of good woodwind writing and prominent clarinet parts.
I think the problem the OP is describing is more endemic to band transcriptions of orchestral works. Most of the major works I'm familiar with that have been specifically written for band don't suffer from that lack of "crispness."
Band clarinet sections are often given violin parts to play, but I don't think it really has much to do with the timbre of the instrument. I think it's mostly because the clarinet is a very versatile instrument. The "good" range of the clarinet (those notes where the instrument can play with agility) is over 3 octaves and includes the entire lower range of a violin as well as most of the lower range of the viola, and we can play a full range of dynamics over pretty much that whole range (in fact, I think it's safe to say that the clarinet has the greatest dynamic range of the wind instruments). We also blend easily with other instruments.
Some other good band/wind ensemble works (actually written for winds) to listen to are:
Stravinsky--Symphonies of Wind Instruments
Vaughn-Williams--Toccata Marziale
Ron Nelson--Rocky Point Holiday
Paul Creston--Celebration Overture
H. Owen Reed--Heart of the Morn
Gianini--Symphony No. 3 (the piece gets a little corny at times, but the clarinet part's good)
And although I'm not a fan of transcriptions, this one (recorded by the Eastman Wind Ensemble with Wynton Marsalis as the trumpet soloist) is really nice:
Copland (arr. Hunsberger)--Quiet City
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Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2010-05-16 02:45
I just got back from playing with the National Youth Band of Canada, and I can say that we had some pretty good rep with great clarinet parts. Some of the best were:
Gorb-Yiddish Dances. The second movement especially, but the Eefer solos throughout are very very good and a lot of fun to listen to.
de Meij-Lord of the Rings Symphony (We did 1, 3 and 5. 1 and 5 are my favourites.)
Whitacre- Equus. Wonderful piece with an extended clarinet solo near the beginning. The entire thing is melodic clarinet noodles, it seems.
I also played Maslanka's "Give Us This Day," which starts with a beautiful clarinet solo and has some good meaty stuff later on.
And those are just the ones I've happened to play! I'm sure there's oodles of good stuff out there.
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Author: clarii
Date: 2010-05-17 04:24
i was a freshman first chair 2nd clarinet in 1961 with the u. of michigan band. i believe gonzalez was getting his dma. hearing those 6 cls. playing the weber night after night on a michigan st. tour was something. would you believe at least 3 were NOT music majors!. the band had 12 2nd. cls., 12 3rd cls. 6 alto cls., 6 bass cls., 1 e-flat cl. and 3 contra bass one e-flat. it certainly was the great warm cl. section that made that michigan sound. nowadays cl. sections are often ignored AND conductors wonder why they cant get that sound. nelebel(sp.) was in residence and we premiered tricico(sp) and others. persicetto sym was our biggie and elsas procession. sinta played summertime etc. a great band with a nasty dictator and asswiper cavender. cheers fron n.z. paul king
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2010-05-18 00:50
My favorite, probably only piece that I like, transcribed for band is Barber's School for Scandal Overture. Talk about using the clarinets as the "string section"...there's a recording of the Navy Band performing this and it is amazing...excellent!
I'm also a bit irked by your comment about not hearing band music outside of the concert hall -- cry about it, but that's never going to change.
Molly on the Shore comes to mind as a clarinet showpiece (of sorts) and Mvt. 3 of Persichetti 6 as well. Mvt 2 as well while I think about it!
It sounds like you need to broaden your perspective. Get out there and listen to more music. If you like band music (and even if you don't but want a better appreciation of it) go to any major university's library and start listening! Tokyo Kosei, Eastman, any of the service bands, Michigan, Texas Wind Symphony, New England, Miami....there's a lot of ensembles out there to listen to.
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Author: SamKaestner
Date: 2010-05-19 14:31
Check out the West Point Band's website:
http://www.westpoint.edu/band/Resources/listeningroom.htm
You can download a bunch of free stuff. Some great repertoire, some not.
There are also a bunch of live recordings on our facbook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Point-Band/26175186824
Sam Kaestner
West Point Band Clarinetist
www.samkaestner.com
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