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Re: C# to D (Mozart Clarinet Concerto)

Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2017-08-19 01:22

Maybe it's me. It's not that hard to hit the D cleanly. Just practice the few measures everyday for a few weeks. Try different tempo's speeds, slowly for sure. slurring, articulations, and it should fall into place. Also try accenting the D when you reach it. This lets the rhythms fall into place evenly sometimes.

On some A horns you don't need to use the pinky finger. Some of the early 1960's Buffet's for example. So check the pitch with your meter. If you are off just a few cents don't worry about it. If you are 10 cents off you have to use the pinky. It's just the way it is... That D is important. It is the reason why I am suggesting to accent it just a shade. This gives you that split second to get the pinky in place. We have to remember that Mozart didn't put any slurs nor articulation marks in this piece so you do have some liberties, such as slurring the whole passage. Knowing this I often think some of the recordings are wrong when players double tongue. But lets not go there. Keep the piece simple.

You said you are self taught. This piece may be a good time to grab a few lessons as it is hard to play correctly. Correctly means we want the audience to stand up with joy after you play this. If they do not stand up, well it's just another performance. By the way I think the second movement is by far the hardest, because it needs to be played with so much emotion. These are not just notes. Mozart loved to dance with pretty women, so we have to get into his head as he may have been dancing so lightly on his feet during this movement.These notes must be played gracefully.

Best of luck!

Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces

Yamaha Artist 2015

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