 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: ClariAK
Date: 2012-04-05 04:03
Hello,
I am a sophomore in high school and am very serious about music. To give you an idea of where i'm at right now, I was 1st chair at All-state, and am performing the third movement of Weber 2 accompanied by a professional orchestra later this month.
My dad was just awarded a Fulbright scholarship to teach in India, so in June my whole family is moving to Pune, India, which is relatively close to Mumbai. After researching quite a bit, it appears that western classical music is fairly undeveloped in India. Does anyone know what sort of clarinet community (if any) exists in India? I want to go to music school, and this next year i'm planning on stepping up and focusing primarily on the clarinet, so I would really appreciate whatever anyone knows about the situation in India.
Thanks,
Rory O'Donoghue
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2012-04-05 05:50
Rory, I'm afraid I can't help you very much because I've never been to India and don't know much about clarinet playing there. However, I think it will be a wonderful opportunity for you to get to learn about Indian music. In today's world, learning about non-Western music is a real plus. The experience will be a real positive when you apply to college.
I found this item, and you might find it helpful: http://www.banglatorrents.com/showthread.php?16285-Ragas-and-Clarinet
Many years ago, I heard John McCaw perform John Mayer's Raga Music for solo clarinet. There are a couple performances you can hear on YouTube. It's interesting and enjoyable music, and I think it would be a great piece to add to your repertoire.
Post Edited (2012-04-05 05:51)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2012-04-05 06:36
I worked as an engineer in India a few years back and never heard a western clarinet. However, I heard some North Indian and South Indian music but not a lot.
The house band at the Cama Hotel in Ahmedabad was a trio, a simple system clarinet, a beat-up ancient baritone saxophone and a drummer using a set that looked to be pre-1900. Surprizingly, they knew every tune in the book by memory and performed quite well on rock and jazz tunes. While staying there, I heard them every night.
I bought some simple instruments there, including an old military system thumbplate Boosey and Hawkes worn-out oboe, which has since been restored. Some of these instruments are relics of the days of British bands. Few western instruments were easily imported because of very high customs duties.
Play your clarinet there if you can, documenting it for customs purposes, and don't miss a golden opportunity to see the most fascinating country in the world! Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2012-04-05 08:01
Find any way possible to immerse yourself into the incredibly rich, dense world of Indian classical music. You can deal with western clarinet when you get back. Everyone and their dog can play Weber 2 and make AllState, but get yourself unraveling triply nested patterns in septuplets over bars of 5/8 and you'll have some serious chops.
I took a year of tabla and tala, and a semester of svar graam, in grad school, and it expanded my horizons immensely, though I only scratched the surface.
Clarinet isn't terribly popular in India, but a small scene does exist. AKC Natarajan and Narasinhalu Wadavati brought the house down at Clarinetfest last year in L.A. You might contact Bill Powell (Clarinet prof at CalArts, who spent a year in India) and see if he has any recommendations on where to go / what to do. Tell him I sent ya.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cigleris
Date: 2012-04-05 09:59
Dear Rory,
Firstly can I ask how long you and your family will be living in Pune for? I can tell you that western Classical is alive and well in Mumbai at the NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts) at Nariman Point. I have been principal clarinet of the Symphony Orchestra of India since Feb 2011 and perform in Mumbai twice a year. The SOI perform two seasons a year, Feb and Sept. We work with international conductors and soloists and do varied programs as well as Opera. This September we will be playing Beethoven Pastoral and Mahler 5th Symphony amongst other things.
With regard to your main question, the SOI is starting up a Conservatoire in Mumbai so I would look into that. I can also tell you that there is an amateur chamber orchestra call the Bombay Chamber Orchestra which are actually quite good. I know the principal clarinet of that orchestra quite well and can try and put you in touch with him. That might be a possible playing opportunity there though I hope you realise that Mumbai is about a 2 hours drive from Pune and that is not taking into account the terrible traffic. I don't know how long the rail journey journey be but having taken trains from Mumbai I can tell you that is an experience.
I'f you want to contact me off line via email or Skype and chat more about it please do, I'll try and help as best I can.
Peter Cigleris
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ClariAK
Date: 2012-04-05 15:16
Thanks for all of the responses!
We will only be in Pune for a year, so I will be back in time for college auditions and such. I am incredibly excited, i've always wanted to live in Asia (i speak chinese) but I was just hoping I could get information on a potential private teacher or ensemble.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2012-04-05 19:05
Yes, get in touch with William E. Powell.
He's also on Facebook, so you might try contacting him there.
If you would like me to forward an e-mail to him, send it to me at
bmcgar (at) hotmail (dot) com
B.
Post Edited (2012-04-05 19:33)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cigleris
Date: 2012-04-05 20:44
As someone who is going out to India twice a year performing professionally I think I am in a good position to know what is happening in the Maharastra region( which is we're Pune is based). I am also in a good position to be able to introduce the OP to the contacts he might need.
Rory, as I mentioned in my post I work for the only professional orchestra in India and they have a music school. Contact me so I can give you the details if your interested. I will be in Mumbai in September for nearly three weeks so again there is the opportunity for you to take a lesson or two from me if you would like plus I can get you reduced tickets or indeed comps for the three scheduled performances.
Peter Cigleris
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2012-04-05 21:32
Pune(Poona) has the reputation of having the best tabla drum heads. I studied tabla with Kadar Khan in Ahmedabad and sitar with Amiya das Gupta in the USA but found that I could barely scratch the surface of North Indian music.
The fact that they hire foreigner players for their orchestra says something for the music programs in India.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cigleris
Date: 2012-04-05 21:39
Well Wes, I can tell you the majority of the SOI are foreign from either UK, East and West Europe, all top class players. The Indian contingent is only about 12 players all strings. Wind playing in India is not strong but that is something that the SOI hopes to change in the coming years. A program very much like the Malaysian Philharmonic.
Indian Classical Music is a completely different beast and requires years of study but I'm sure the OP was talking about Western Classical Music.
Peter Cigleris
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2012-04-06 21:27
I know the OP was asking about Western Classical. However, it seems to me like a spectacular opportunity is presenting itself that would be a shame to miss out on.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kev182
Date: 2012-04-07 04:00
I lived in Chennai (South India) for three years after having lived and studied clarinet in Romania for the preceding six years.
Classical music in India, for the most part, is nearly non-existent. Most of the classical players play for bollywood but usually don't have a solid foundation is western classical music.
It was incredibly difficult motivating myself to continue to study the clarinet alone. With no guidance it was hard to see a clear goal to aspire to. After 3 years of struggling to motivate myself and finding terrible military band clarinetists for lessons - I decided to go to Interlochen Arts Academy for the last 3 years of high school and I'm so glad I did. Had I not left India to do so, there would have been no chance for me to study music in university.
Luckily there was a fantastic Latvian clarinet soloist teaching at an international boarding school in a somewhat nearby city called Kodaikanal. I was able to take quite a few lessons with him. He left quite a while ago but the school may have hired another teacher... it would be worth checking = http://www.kis.in/
So... in a way it's good you are only staying for a year. On the plus side, India is a spectacularly wonderful country with a rich and vibrant culture.... definitely an eye opening experience. Make sure you go see indian classical music as well (carnatic/hindustani) Enjoy India!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-04-07 06:20
If I lived in India for a year I would definitely take the opportunity to learn as much as possible playing Indian music, and I'm not even so interested in playing Indian music (I do like to listen to it).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
