|  The Clarinet BBoard 
 
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    | Author: Klose ★2017 Date:   2018-08-24 06:04
 
 The famous ARD competition is coming. Interestingly, one of the semifinal pieces is our Mozart clarinet concerto. Has anyone heard this piece played on viola?
 
 Generally speaking, viola is such a pathetic instrument. On the program list, half of them are actually for other instruments, e.g., some sonatas for violin and Brahms sonatas, Schumann op.73 for clarinet.
 
 https://www.br.de/ard-music-competition/conditions-participation/brochure-2018-download-100.html
 
 
 
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    | Author: gwie Date:   2018-08-24 10:26
 
 Seems diverse enough:
 
 Pre-selection with recording
 
 a) One Caprice by NICCOLÓ PAGANINI
 b) J. S. BACH, Prelude and one more movement from the 4th, 5th (in scordatura notation) or 6th Suite or the 1st movement and fugue from a violin sonata
 
 First round (max 25 minutes)
 
 1. One of the following works
 ADOLF BUSCH, Suite op. 16a
 ERNST KRENEK, Sonata for Viola solo op. 92 No. 3
 MAX REGER, one of the three suites op. 131 d
 
 2. One of the following works
 FRIEDRICH HERMANN, Konzert-Etüde No. 3
 NICCOLÓ PAGANINI, one Caprice
 MAURICE VIEUX, from 20 Études : No. 1, 5, 6, 8 or 12 (Leduc)
 
 3. A selection of works by J. S. BACH from the 4th, 5th (in scordatura notation) or 6th Suite (including Prelude) or from a Sonata or a Partita
 
 Second round
 
 4. One of the following works
 JOHANNES BRAHMS, Sonata op. 120 No. 1 or No. 2 or op. 78
 EDVARD GRIEG, Sonata C minor op. 45
 CÉSAR FRANCK, Sonata A major
 FRANZ SCHUBERT, Sonata A minor (Arpeggione) D 821
 ROBERT SCHUMANN, Märchenbilder op. 113 or Fantasiestücke op. 73 or Adagio and Allegro op. 70
 
 5. One of the following works
 LUCIANO. BERIO, Sequenza
 MINAS BORBOUDAKIS, Kurzschluss – Hommage à Diogenes
 TOSHIO HOSOKAWA, Threnody
 GARTH KNOX, Fuga libre
 GYÖRGY KURTÁG, Jelek op. 5 or a selection of works from Signs, Games and Messages
 GYÖRGY LIGETI, one or two movements from the Sonata
 BRUNO. MADERNA, Viola (Beginning must be specified.)
 AKIRA NISHIMURA, Sonata No. 1 Whirl Dance or No. 2 Mantra on the C string
 ICHIRO NODAIRA, two movements from En plein air
 KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI, Cadenza
 ARIBERT REIMANN, Solo
 DAVID SAWER, Parthenope
 ATAC SEZER, Fragmente alla Turca
 
 6. One of the following works with piano accompaniment
 
 BENJAMIN BRITTEN, Lachrymae – Reflections on Dowland
 HANS WERNER HENZE, Sonata (1979)
 PAUL HINDEMITH, op. 11 No. 4 or op. 25 No. 4 or 1939
 ERNST KRENEK, Sonata op. 117
 DARIUS MILHAUD, Quatre Visages
 DMITRI SCHOSTAKOWITSCH, Sonata op. 147
 TŌRU TAKEMITSU / TOSHIO HOSOKAWA, A string around autumn
 ISANG YUN, Duo
 
 Semifinal with the Munich Chamber Orchestra without conductor
 
 7. One of the concertos by
 FRANZ ANTON HOFFMEISTER
 W. A.MOZART, Clarinet Concerto (version for clarinet; not Bärenreiter edition from 1802)
 CARL STAMITZ
 
 8. KONSTANTIA GOURZI, composition commissioned for the ARD International Music Competition 2018 (premiere) financed by the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung. The sheet music will be supplied along with the admission to the competition. The commissioned composition may be performed with the music, it may not be publicly performed prior to the competition.
 
 Final with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
 
 9. One of the following concertos
 BÉLA BARTÓK Orchestra edition by TIBOR SERLY (contestants may choose freely if originally composed tones will be played)
 IVÁN ERÖD
 PAUL HINDEMITH, Der Schwanendreher
 WILLIAM WALTON
 
 
 
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    | Author: Klose ★2017 Date:   2018-08-24 10:32
 
 I guess it is very rare to see a clarinet competition including some arranged pieces. However, this is very typical for viola and flute competitions. We should be proud of that, haha!
 
 
 
 Post Edited (2018-08-24 10:33)
 
 
 
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    | Author: dorjepismo ★2017 Date:   2018-08-24 21:16
 
 I think it's time to consider a performance of "Harold in Italy" with a clarinet playing the solo part.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Barry Vincent Date:   2018-08-25 06:07
 
 "Generally speaking, viola is such a pathetic instrument"
 Obviously you haven't listened to the music of Vaugh Ralph Williams and others. The Viola, or Alto Violin if you like, is a lovely sounding instrument and a vital part of the string quartet/quintet literature.
 
 Skyfacer
 
 Post Edited (2018-08-25 09:44)
 
 
 
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    | Author: Klose ★2017 Date:   2018-08-25 06:15
 
 Barry Vincent,
 
 Please don't get me wrong. I also like the sound of viola but for such a nice instrument, viola players have to play pieces which are originally composed for other instruments, which is sad, particularly considering some people here think that it is a huge crime to play C clarinet part with B flat instrument...
 
 
 
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    | Author: Barry Vincent Date:   2018-08-25 06:17
 
 As an 'aside'. I occasionally find myself playing the Viola part in  our small orchestra on my Bb Clarinet because we sometimes we don't have anyone playing the Viola line and there are enough Clarinets to cover the Clarinet parts.
 
 It's one of the easier transpositions and quite an enjoyable thing to do actually.. You mentally change the C Clef to the F Clef and change the key signature to one tone higher. The notes remain on the same lines and spaces of the staff. Certain accidentals have to be figured out and the two lowest notes Db/C#* and C can't be played of course. And  you can't double stop.
 
 * with a full Boehm Bb you can play the low Db/C#.
 
 Skyfacer
 
 Post Edited (2018-09-16 09:20)
 
 
 
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    | Author: Chris_C ★2017 Date:   2018-08-25 13:51
 
 As a regular alto clarinet player, I have great sympathies with viola players -  most viola jokes have alto clarinet equivalents...
 I recommend the Telemann viola concerto
 
 
 
 
 
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    | Author: Klose ★2017 Date:   2018-08-25 13:55
 
 
 Quote:
 the two lowest notes Db/C#* and C can't be played of course.
 
 With a basset clarinet you can play all of them.
  
 
 
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    | Author: Barry Vincent Date:   2018-08-25 18:19
 
 Hi Klose. The Alto Clarinet in F ('Basset Horn') is not all that practical to use for playing the Viola parts as, unlike the Bb Clarinet, you can't use the Viola's music (C Clef) You'd have to completely write out the part.
 Whereas with the Bb Clarinet (Soprano) you just use the Viola's notation as noted previously.
 
 Skyfacer
 
 
 
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    | Author: Barry Vincent Date:   2018-08-25 18:29
 
 I just realised something quite interesting about the Viola playing Mozarts Clarinet Concerto.
 It could easily play the original (written) version of it that goes all the way down to the low C natural. (one octave below 'middle C' ) which is the Viola's lowest note.
 However I do realise that this Concerto is for the A Clarinet sounding a minor 3rd lower again. But the Viola would be able to play the original 'form' of it.
 
 Skyfacer
 
 Post Edited (2018-08-25 18:39)
 
 
 
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    | Author: Klose ★2017 Date:   2018-08-25 18:33
 
 Skyfacer,
 
 Please note what I said is basset clarinet, not basset horn. It is usually in A but B-flat instrument is also available.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Klose ★2017 Date:   2018-08-25 18:49
 
 Hi Skyfacer,
 
 Check this very nice performance where Sabine Meyer was using a B-flat Basset. Probably one day I will play it on my Basset in A, then it will probably be the most difficult transposition. Haha.
 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaKX21earkk&frags=pl%2Cwn
 
 
 
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    | Author: Barry Vincent Date:   2018-08-26 00:29
 
 Check this little bit of trivia out. I have a full Boehm A and when I play the low Eb on that it sounds the Viola's lowest note (the open C string)
 
 Skyfacer
 
 
 
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    | Author: Klose ★2017 Date:   2018-08-26 00:51
 
 It works for me. Or you can just search this pm youtube: Cecilia Bartoli - Parto, Parto, Ma Tu Ben Mio
 
 
 
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    | Author: Klose ★2017 Date:   2018-09-14 05:28
 
 https://www.br.de/ard-music-competition/schedule/viola-schedule-2018-106.html
 
 Unfortunately, none of the semi-finalists chose Mozart concerto. But interestingly, all of them are Asian players.
 
 
 
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