 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tellullahmusic
Date: 2010-08-02 19:48
Hey guys I was just wondering if someone could help me with playing the ridiculous, stupid, insane top C at the end of Artie Shaw's clarinet concerto?
I love the piece, but the note is crazy
I'm using either Vandoren V12 #3 or Rico Royal #3+1/2
I want to play this piece in a competition in November and reeaaally need to be able to pull it off!
Thanks xx
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-08-02 20:06
You play the high C reliably by learning to voice it, using an exercise from the Leblanc Bell magazine, which I've described several times:
Stuff a cotton swab up the bell, finger middle B (with the register key open), take plenty of mouthpiece, loosen your embouchure and blow like the wind. You'll get a weak 4th space Eb. Blow harder and harder until you get a decent volume.
Then find the Bb above. You do this by raising the back of your tongue and lowering the tip, lowering your jaw slightly and raising your soft palate. It's easier to do than to describe.
Then find the Eb, G and Bb and play bugle calls.
It's the same process you learned as a beginner, getting the C above the staff to come out rather than first-space F. Get the feel of the various overtones into your muscle memory. Pick the correct one and the high C will pop right out.
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2010-08-02 20:23
Hmmm, just practice--it works for me every time with a strong embouchure, good reed (I use Forestones F5) and plenty of breath support. After the final B6, I then repeat the G6 and play chromatically (quaisi glissando) up to the final C7.
I use the trad fingerings:
G TR XOX XXO rh Eb (pinky)
G# TR OXX XOO lh C
A TR OXX OOO rh Eb
A# TR OXX OOO lh Ab & G# rh Eb
B TR XXO XXO rh Eb
(and the grand finale)
C TR XOO XOO rh Eb
Using these fingerings on my Leblanc Concerto or my vintage Buffet R13, I have never missed any of those notes, even in rehearsals. I credit years of practicing scales up to A6, A#6, B6 & C7 or, perhaps, just plain dumb luck. In any case, like with most other things in life, the more you do it the easier it becomes. Practice your three octave C and chromatic scales every day and you'll get there. Good luck.
BTW--here is a local WI high school senior playing it with his school band. He will be studing with David Schifrin at Yale in the fall:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xke6hnS2o4
He is using the same arrangement I had done for me a couple of years ago.
Post Edited (2010-08-02 21:01)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-02 20:33
For altissimo B and C, use the fingerings as mentioned above by William, but try using the RH F#/C# key instead of the Ab/Eb key to see if this makes them speak easier.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2010-08-03 08:46
XOO XOO is a smidge flat for me. XOX XOX is a beast, tho. Of course, maybe this is just me and my particular instrument. Such is the upper alt.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2010-08-03 12:30
Combining William's and Chris P's comments:
William's fingerings are the ones that I use, but I don't use the Eb I use Chris P's C# fingering.
I don't need either the Eb or C# for these notes to come out. They do not function like the register key (and you can play the second register without the register key)...they simply raise the pitch a bit.
Instead of long tones my students play the overtone series of the clarinet, and for some of them they take it up to this C every day. Once you learn to voice it, you'll find it's less about fingerings and more about knowing what your oral cavity needs to do to play this note.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2010-08-03 13:42
Navy Band Soloist John Coulehan showed me what fingering he used for high C - he did the 1/1 fingering but also added the lh sliver key (Eb/Bb) and the right sliver key (B/F#) along with the Ab/Eb key of course.
That fingering can be quite sharp though.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: HBHT9
Date: 2010-08-04 23:28
practice your overtones! The correct fingering can only help you so much unless you can really voice the note. Without it you'll never feel confident!
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Author: redwine
Date: 2010-08-05 01:13
Hello,
Make sure your reed is balanced, of course. You shouldn't change your embouchure for these high notes. If you can't get them out, either your setup is not right or your embouchure/air stream is not right. Good luck.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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