 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2010-12-29 06:43
I've been asked to play at a funeral with an organist. Does anybody have any suggestions about pieces which would work well with clarinet and organ that would be fitting for an occasion like this? Thanks.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-12-29 07:31
R.Wagner/Baermann: Adagio for Clarinet and orchestra. I'm sure there must be a piano and/or an organ arrangement. I'm played this a mess of times at these sad moments, without the organ or the piano.
You can probably get away with other slow movements such as the Mozart Concerto 2nd movement.
Generlly you have to cut the pieces short because they can take 10 to 15 minutes to play. If you go outside for the funeral, after everyone has made their speaches and you are by the casket. Sometimes people throw dirt onto the casket. You could play alone and forget about the piano part. Just go to the next solo and skip the long rests.
Again both pieces work. They are very moving emotional pieces to play. If you are out of practice your mouth will get pretty tired.
Let me know what you wind up playing and how the people react.
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2010-12-29 12:51
If you are good at transposing, or can write the transposition out, slow movements from the Baroque period would be very good. I have played pieces at such events by Albinoni and Marcello (oboe concertos). Also JS Bach's slow movement from the oboe d'amore concerto is very beautiful. Since oboe d'amore is in A, you can play the part directly on an A clarinet.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-12-29 13:01
From the Faure Requiem, which is often performed with organ, look at the Libera Me and Pie Jesu movements. The only problem is they're such amazing music that everything else gets put in the shade.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2010-12-29 14:11
A friend was asked to play Satie's Gymnopedies on clarinet (w. piano or organ, I forget which) for a funeral. Supposedly this was by prior request of the descendant.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xm7s9eGxU for the audio of the piano dittie.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
Post Edited (2010-12-29 14:12)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2010-12-29 14:22
Bach's Cantata No. 156, "Ich steh' mit einem Fuss im Grabe" ("I stand with one foot in the grave") is one of the most gorgeous melodies in music.
I had chose that in my first wedding, not knowing the translation.
Was appropriate though.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: salzo
Date: 2010-12-29 16:05
"Camptown races", and "My old Kentucky home"-that always gets the crowd grooving.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-12-29 16:38
Those two pieces hardly strike me as appropriate for a funeral.
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: William
Date: 2010-12-29 17:11
For my mother in law's funeral, I played "Ave Maria", with organ, during the Mass and "Irish Tune from County Derry" (unaccompanied) as the casket was being taken from the church. Both of these were specific requests from my wife and were very appropriate for the service, both in solemnity and for time (neither being too long).
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-12-29 19:19
Just, simply, have the organist play the piano reduction for the second movement of the Mozart A Clarinet Concerto.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Philcoman
Date: 2010-12-29 19:50
"Ave Maria" is simple and very moving. I've played it with piano accompaniment -- never with organ.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2010-12-29 20:15
I play occasionally at my Lutheran church with a great keyboard player and many of things we do for the Offertory and Communion might fit. It would seem to me that lovely melodies with some soaring sections may be just as appropriate at a funeral if we think of that service as more a celebration of life. The music, in my mind, should be such that people can be privately reflective.
Recently at a regular Sunday service, I did a couple of the Finzi Bagatelles, Girl with the Flaxen Hair, and Gymnopedie. Nothing too long but these are truly beautiful compositions that could be enjoyed. I like William's ideas.
My father requested that Amazing Grace be done at his funeral.
HRL
PS There is a neat book of French clarinet solos with piano by Melbay.
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2010-12-29 20:51
Hey, thanks for all the ideas! I'm not sure the Swiss grievers will respond well to salzo's suggestions though?!
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Author: clarinetcase
Date: 2010-12-29 21:09
I've played for several funerals and recommend Rich Heffler's arr for clar and keyboard of "It Is well With My Soul" written by the composer for his son's funeral.
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Author: Pastor Rob
Date: 2010-12-30 04:58
Interestingly, "It Is Well" was written by HG Spafford after learning all three of his daughters perished when their ship went down crossing the Atlantic in the late 1800's. It is a most fitting song for funeral services.
Pastor Rob Oetman
Leblanc LL (today)
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Author: luca1
Date: 2010-12-30 05:12
David B! Fantastic suggestion!!
... Mine important moment would be more like "I stand with one foot in my mouth"
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Author: salzo
Date: 2010-12-30 17:51
"Interestingly, "It Is Well" was written by HG Spafford after learning all three of his daughters perished when their ship went down crossing the Atlantic in the late 1800's. It is a most fitting song for funeral services"
Unless the departed drowned.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-12-31 21:49
I (being Swiss) would - for my own funeral - choose something of Rameau's Gavotte & Six Doubles, "Un bel dí vedremo", and maybe "Aase's Death". And yes, the Gymnopédies indeed.
--
Ben
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2010-12-31 21:52
Showing that I'm a child of my times, my will reads that "Ramble On" by Led Zepplin be played at my wake ... for real.
But I wouldn't recommend that for the average funeral.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-12-31 23:41
Mark -
Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe?
If I had to choose, it would be Dinu Lipatti's recording of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Phurster
Date: 2011-01-02 07:52
I was asked to play at my mother's funeral. As you can imagine it was emotionally very difficult to play.
I ended up playing the Pie Jesu from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem, with my sister on flute. Very pretty work. A friend who is a fabulous soprano sang Ave Maria (by coincidence my mother's name was Mary). Both good choices.
Chris.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2011-01-06 15:34
Hello,
You can choose anything from the standard hymn book, play the melody and have the organist accompany! Ask the deceased's family if that person had a favorite.
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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Author: Veldeb
Date: 2011-01-10 14:51
Over the yrs Ive done a variety of funeral pieces on clarinet - you didnt mention what denomination the funeral was... I've done On Eagles Wings many times - although the instrumental part is written for flute, clt can be used. I've also done Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, both the Schubert and the Gounad versions of the Ave Maria, Softly and Tenderly, Down to the River to Pray, Mozart Clt Concerto 2nd movement.
Sometimes the longer pieces make nice "gathering" songs while people are coming into the funeral particularly if there is a viewing at the church prior to the service.
Particularly if the organ is electronic and has the auto transposer on it, then you can just play out of the hymnal their favorites and get the organist to transpose accordingly.
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