 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: eduardo94
Date: 2013-05-16 23:01
Hi guys, I'm going to a competition and I need send to them a recording of Brahms sonata n1, 2° mov. I recorded a rehearsal and I would like to know what you think about my playing.
That isn't the oficial recording, I will record it again next week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyB7kD5vo_s
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2013-05-17 01:26
Hello Eduardo,
I enjoy your sound, your control through the registers, and your preparation.
It sounds very much like the piece is in an exploratory or preparatory place for you. The steadiness of your tempo eliminates many opportunities for rubato, accelerando, or ritardando to be used expressively. I would have a difficult time performing this piece at such a tempo.
There are five presentations of the melody: "Poco Forte", "dolce", "espressivo", "dolce", and the final pianissimo. I would work to envision and prepare them so that the differences between them are more apparent.
I think that, on the whole, the phrasing needs to be more flexible and less deliberate.
For both of you, I find the 32nd note passages baffling. For me, they often "go nowhere" -- you move forward only to pull back within the 32nds, never connecting them to the downbeat of the next measure. Perhaps, because I perceive them as pick-ups, this is something that I must do.
Thank you for the performance! I'd love to hear the final product. Best of luck on your preparations!
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Joseph Brenner, Jr.
Date: 2013-05-17 03:12
Eduardo,
I think that you have made real progress on this movement. I support what James has said, though. Do you have access to the Harold Wright/Peter Serkin recording of the Brahms sonatas? It's on Boston Records. Wright was a master of dynamics, legato, and phrasing; I'd place him first among those who have recorded the piece. You might also listen to the master class at Northwestern Univ. conducted by Karl Leister. Leister's a fine teacher and musician, as well as clarinetist. His approach is principally on the music in this class, not so much on the clarinet and he's really inciteful. Here's the link: http://www.pickstaiger.org/video/clarinet-master-class-karl-leister .
Best wishes; I hope that you will give us more samples as you progress. jbjr
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-05-17 15:39
Hey, I just wanted to say I think your playing is great!
I had a high school orchestra conductor who said once, "young people just can't play Brahms." I think he was equating musical and chronological development. You have proven his statement false.
.................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2013-05-17 15:58
Eduardo,
Very nice playing, beautiful sound, smooth/even lines.
However, for me, I feel that one needs to be sensitive to the potential for dramatically shaping the phrases (utilizing the dimensions of dynamics, tone color, tempo and style) to release the emotional power of this (and other) movements. For example, in the 1st few bars, the 32nds can be played rubato (starting a bit slower and ending faster to create forward motion--I thought I heard some of this in when the pianist played these later in the movement). (In contrast, I favor playing this motive at the end with supreme tranquility and purity, with the softest, purist sound I can manage). In bars 16-18 one can push to tempo slightly along with the crescendo, to create movement towards the high C in bar 19, then take time as that phrase descends into bar 20. In bars 31-35, the 16ths should have dynamic shape (being soft, crescendo, then diminuendo). Similar thoughts apply throughout the movement.
I think that particularly in the Brahms Sonatas, Trio and Quintet, one must take time to savor and extract everything the music has to offer. The movement you recorded is particularly introspective, reflective and even melancholy, with moments of restrained joy, possibly even anguish. Too often we get caught up in the mechanics of playing a "clarinet piece" when we should be thinking of "the music". To this end great recordings are very helpful to gain perspective. As noted above, my favorite is the OLD Wright recording with Harris Goldsmith (which might not be available). I also like Jon Manasse's recordings.
A final thought: a friend of mine observed that the Brahms Sonatas are not so much FOR clarinet (with piano) as they are Sonatas for a Clarinet/Piano, i.e., the two parts should be conceived as being more integrated that we (as clarinettists) are inclined to appreciate.
Enjoy your time with these works...they are well worth it! We're looking forward to hearing the results in your next recording.
Bob Barnhart
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2013-05-17 18:26
Nice tone, Eduardo.
And, if everyone will excuse me just a moment, I'm thrilled there is a young Brazilian clarinetist on board!
Edu, to ficando impressionada, gente--com sua talenta e com seu ingles! Que legal! Quantos anos voce tem? Aonde e com quem voce estuda clarinete? Em Joao Pessoa, tem lugares onde voce consege comprar assessorias para clariente? Que marcas?
Please post a final recording for us to hear and good luck.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: eduardo94
Date: 2013-05-18 00:55
Thank you guys! I will record it again on Tuesday, if you have more advices, tell me please, this help me alot.
#Claire Annette: meu inglês está longe ainda, mas estou estudando kkkkkkkk. Eu tenho 18 anos, e estou fazendo Bacharelado na Universidade Federal da Paraíba sob orientação do professor Carlos Rieiro (Argentina). Sobre a questão de acessórios, aqui só temos algumas lojas que estão mais voltadas a venda de instrumento populares como violão, guitarra, bateria e etc, há poucas opções para instrumentos de sopro a nível intermediário/profissional. Na maioria das vezes compramos em lojas de outros lugares, como a Plander de Curitiba ou a Ecorde de São Paulo.
É sempre bom encontrar brasileiros por aqui, a "camyllacarvalho" e o Alex também são usuários brasileiros. Obrigado pelos elogios!
Abraço!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-05-18 03:08
eduardo -
Excellent playing and communication between you and the pianist. But it's much too soft, as if you were singing a lullaby to yourselves.
Listen to Pinchas Zuckerman at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YEa-j3qVxc. He's like a great trombone, singing out to the world.
Then listen to Lionel Tertis playing the first movement at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwXpg0l2VtE -- for me, the greatest violist ever.
Be more aware of appoggiaturas and resolutions. Press on the non-harmonic note and relax into the resolution.
For your next recording, it would be a great help if you could play from the stage in an auditorium. Have your friends sit in the last row and project the music to them. This is not gentle and comforting music. It's passionate music even in the slow movement -- an intense, heart-attack-rich German pastry. You and the audience need to play and hear it with saliva running down your chins.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-05-18 20:05
Hey Ken,
When I play Brahms I always have saliva running down my chin.
.................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
