 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DavidK
Date: 2010-08-01 05:55
I am studying the work of Iwan Muller and have read elsewhere that, "due to their understanding of the most intimate details of clarinet performance, clarinetists themselves may be among the most qualified to write idiomatic works for the instrument." I can think of examples suggesting the flip-side (e.g. some passages in Vivaldi works for oboe seem quite awkward), but then other works, like Debussy's Petit Piece, which was written for exam students, seem very thoughtfully composed. Are there any articles that delve into this subject, with examples from works composed by clarinetists that show how they understand their instrument better than non-players? Thanks.
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2010-08-02 16:30
There are probably many clarinet playing composers out there but the one that springs to mind at this moment is Eric Mandat. His knowledge of the instrument and its capabilities along with his ability to compose is amazing. I'm not aware of any articles, but I highly recommend the works of Mandat.
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Author: ABerry
Date: 2010-08-02 19:19
Another, is Stanley Perskey...He wrote three pieces for solo clarinet, ala Stravinsky. I don't remember the title, and I have been unable to locate him as a composer.
I met back in 1978 at the Composer's Conference and Chamber Music Center held at Johnson State College in Johnson, Vermont
Allan
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-08-02 20:40
It doesn't matter if the composer is not really a good composer. There's a reason that there are so few, if any, famous lasting pieces written by composers that played that instrument. I think there are many "older" standard pieces that fit the clarinet so well that one might think the composer played it. Mozart, Beethoven, Schuman, just to mention a few. If you include those that did not write solo's but orchestra works the list grows my dozens, if not more. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: mrn
Date: 2010-08-02 21:19
I don't know about articles on this subject, but I can think of some composers who at one time or another played the clarinet (in no particular order). Maybe one or more of these names will lead to useful information:
Donald Martino -- Composer of "A Set for Clarinet." Don't quote me on this, but I think I remember reading somewhere that he intentionally made his "Set" difficult to play. This might be something you want to verify. I do know he played clarinet, and that it grew out of some improvisation he did on the clarinet in his parents' basement.
John Adams -- Composer of "Gnarly Buttons." He played clarinet in his youth, and the piece is a biographical sketch of his clarinet-playing father.
John Corigliano -- His clarinet concerto was written for Stanley Drucker, from whom Corigliano took clarinet lessons in his youth.
Paul Hindemith -- I have read that he could play all of the orchestral instruments "at least passably," so that would have to mean he could play clarinet, as well. His clarinet sonata is certainly very playable.
John Williams (the film composer, not the guitarist) -- See http://www.filmtracks.com/composers/williams.shtml
Bernhard Henrik Crusell
The Baermanns (Heinrich and Carl)
Rudolf Jettel -- His etudes are infamous, but he wrote other stuff, too. His "Trois Caprices" is a neat piece. (See also David Hattner's liner notes at http://www.northbranchrecords.com/LinerNotes.htm)
Louis Cahuzac
Ernesto Cavallini
Paul Jeanjean
William O. Smith
Harrison Birtwistle
Sean Osborn -- http://www.osbornmusic.com
Of course, there are also composers who have/had a pretty intimate knowledge of the instrument through other means. I think you can count Brahms as one of them, through his relationship with Richard Muhlfeld (in which Muhlfeld educated him about the instrument). Alfred Uhl, who wrote the 48 Studies (as well as other works, like his Divertimento) worked with Leopold Wlach in composing his clarinet works.
Post Edited (2010-08-02 21:26)
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2010-08-03 02:33
Roy Harris also played the clarinet. He wrote a concerto for piano, clarinet, and string quartet, but I don't think it's performed very often.
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