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 Need Bass Clarinet Feature
Author: Margali Hanson 
Date:   2010-08-12 15:42

Hello all!

I've been lurking on this forum for a few years now, and just now need some advice.

I will be entering my last semester of college this month, and would like to have a feature in the band. I play bass clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, and contrabass clarinet.

My school has a fairly small wind ensemble, and a string group, but no orchestra. We also have a decent clarinet choir, if anyone knows of music for that type of group.

Does anyone know of any pieces that features one of my instruments, yet doesn't need a full orchestra? All advice would be greatly appreciated!

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 Re: Need Bass Clarinet Feature
Author: William 
Date:   2010-08-12 17:10

One of the ensembles I play with just did a piece called, "Blue Shades" which contained some very interesting bass clarinet solos.

If you are looking for a solo, perhaps the Bb clarinet work, "Interlude", by Morrisey (spelling??), would be appropriate. I'ts an "oldie but goodie", easy to play (for soprano clarinet) and pleasing to listen to.

"On the Trail" from the "Grand Canyon Suite" also comes to mind, but many others will probably have much better suggestions--stay tuned..........

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 Re: Need Bass Clarinet Feature
Author: LarryBocaner 2017
Date:   2010-08-12 19:15

Bartok "Second Suite" for small orchestra has an extended bass clarinet solo in the beginning of the second movement.

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 Re: Need Bass Clarinet Feature
Author: GeorgeL 2017
Date:   2010-08-13 15:22

"Mary's Boy Child" by Philip Sparke is a relatively easy band piece (which may be a turn-off to someone trying to demonstrate their virtuosity) that starts and ends with 30 seconds of bass clarinet solo.

On the plus side, it is a catchy, familiar (thanks to Harry Belafonte) tune that will be enjoyed by an audience that includes people who are not music majors.

You can hear it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC1DvbOycDg



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 Re: Need Bass Clarinet Feature
Author: Margali Hanson 
Date:   2010-08-14 04:25

I like these suggestions so far! Thank you all! I think I have found a good piece, Scherzo Fantastique by Alfred Reed. The Crane Clarinet Choir performed it, so I may have to deal with not doing anything with band, but it's better than just a performance class solo. Which I will be doing if I can't find a choir version!

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 Re: Need Bass Clarinet Feature
Author: Jack Kissinger 
Date:   2010-08-14 18:36

Some other options:

Haderman, Spotlights on the Bass clarinet

As I pointed out in an earlier similar thread, there are two works for bass clarinet and band on Oliver Seely's site:

http://www.csudh.edu/oliver/clarmusi/clarmusi.htm

that may or may not be useful:

Misha Elman, "Eïlï Eïli," for Bb Bass Clarinet and Band

David Popper, "Serenade" for Bb Bass Clarinet and Band

Both works are available in full score in an older format Finale file. If you have that version (or a newer version) of Finale, you can extract all the parts from the score and print them.

A couple other possibilities:

Weber, Concertino

One of the Mendelssohn Concertpieces with a soprano clarinet on the first part and a bass clarinet on the second part. For the clarinet parts, you can use the International version for two clarinets and piano. Southern Music has a band version of the accompaniment, at least for the second concertpiece.

You might also look at solos for tenor sax and band. Since the bass clarinet pretty much brackets the tenor sax's range, these should work if you find one you like.

Best regards,
jnk

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 Re: Need Bass Clarinet Feature
Author: jonrussell20 
Date:   2010-08-15 15:37

I'm a composer, I have a piece for 11 clarinets (9 Bb and 2 bass) and it features a bass clarinet cadenza toward the end. It's a fun piece. Follow this link to listen: http://jonrussellmusic.com/Eleven.wav

Good luck!

-Jon

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 Re: Need Bass Clarinet Feature
Author: Margali Hanson 
Date:   2010-08-20 23:04

These are great! Thank you for the suggestions, everyone. But man, MIDI does not do these things justice.

Another piece that has been on my mind for years are Bartok's Roumanian Folk Dances, fitted to clarinet choir with the bass clarinet as the feature. I fell in love with this piece (pieces??) when I heard it performed on upright bass!

Jon I love Eleven! I will be showing this to my clarinet choir director!

Margali

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 Re: Need Bass Clarinet Feature
Author: jonrussell20 
Date:   2010-08-23 02:35

Glad you like Eleven, Margali! Keep me posted if you play it!

FYI, there is also a video of it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6n29C-8MpA

Best,
Jon

Jonathan Russell

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