 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-02-28 22:01
Hey all!
As if I'm not stressed enough with solo competition coming up, my band director passed out a new march to work on. I play my soprano clarinet for band (first chair, go me!) and bass for solos, etc... The song is "March of the Belgian Parachutists." It could be a good song, but my band has nowhere near the talent to pull it off for festival. Alack and alas, my band director won't budge on the song, so we're stuck with it. The part goes up to a high A way above the staff. Is it OK for me to drop it an octave? It's near impossible for me to hit it on a dotted 8th note. I'm the only one on that part, so I can't try to fake it. There's no way anybody else in the section could hit that note. Thanks for the help.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Meri
Date: 2001-02-28 22:27
Do the flutes have the same passage? If so, I would drop it down the octave. Usually when you're that high the flutes are doubling it anyway.
But, remember, all parts need good players. So don't brag about being first chair.
Meri
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-03-01 03:04
I think the ledger lines may be scaring you off that note. Playing over the break was probably a far greater challenge. Just get the fingering, bite a bit (don't hit me folks! - her lips obviously aren't made of leather yet!), be brave and confident, blow with a heck of a pressure, and voila! There it is! Nothing to be afraid of after all. Just EXPECT it to be loud and strident. It's probably meant to be or it would not be written that high. It's only a controlled squeek and you were no doubt good at those once. Hehe!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-03-01 04:23
aah! we're playing that song! Its so awesome!!! I love it! the first clarinet part only goes up to a G though, count your ledger lines again. the bass clarinet part has stuff in it too (which is what i'm playing). count your ledger lines again though, i'm positive its a G.
~ashley~
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2001-03-01 13:22
For what it's worth, my community band may play that on our spring concert in about four weeks. I play bass clarinet, so I can't say much about the first clarinet part.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-03-01 20:26
Francesca -
You can pop out the high A by using the fingering for altissimo E, releasing the right little finger Ab/Eb key and either sliding it down to the F#/C# key or using the left little finger F#/C# key.
If you still have trouble, try thinning down the reed slightly at the very tip.
You're good enough to be first chair. That pretty much automatically means you have enough talent that the high A will feel easy once you get the feel for it.
Keep at it.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-03-02 23:37
If you have a secure high G, the A isn't much worse. Look at various fingerings, find one that works, and get used to it. It's a good thing to know. A's and up show up in a few other pieces (there's a quite long one the West Side Story symphonic dances). There's one in the Copland concerto also, right?
If the flutes have that note, there shouldn't be any trouble in putting in it down an octave. But it's a note worth learning.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DLE
Date: 2001-03-05 11:37
In my opinion - it would depend on how I would feel on the day. If I felt I had a really good reed that could hit all tose high notes, then yes I'd go for it. But, if there was the slightest lack of, or over-confidence, I'd play down. Take Meri's advice (I do occasionally) and check out the flute parts.
DLE.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
