 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: dylan
Date: 2001-07-17 18:24
I recently heard a recording made by Michael Collins of his transcription (with Misha Pletnev) of the Beethoven Violin Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra. Last year I played the first clarinet part in the regular version of this piece with a violin, and I always thought it would be interesting to make a transcription for clarinet. Although Mr. Collins had the right idea, I decided to make my own transciption of the concerto, and I have finished the first movement. Does anyone know of any other transcription that has been done of this work? I would love to compare notes with anyone else who has tackled this transcription. In addition, if anyone knows how I could get in touch with Michael Collins, I would like to talk to him about the process of making such a transcription, as well as ask him about why he changed certain phrases the way he did. Thanks, Dylan
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Author: Mario
Date: 2001-07-17 20:43
Interesting work going on here Dylan. This is a fine piece of music to add to the clarinet repertoire. Excellent initiative.
W.r.t. M. Collins, I tried to get in touch with him soon after the release of his CD, essentially to ask whether his transcription could be made available to others.
After many hours of web searching, I finally landed to the web site of his agency (the people representing him, booking him, and managing his business life). These people were quite nice and indicated to me that my messaage had been sent to Mr. Collins many times, alas to no avail
Dylan seems to be based at a University. Maybe trying the Academic route would be more fruitful.
I am soooooo looking forward to the day when I will be able to access this work transcribed for the clarinet. Yes, I know, I should do it myself, but without advanced scoring software, a scanner, etc. it is back to "du travail de moine".
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Author: Jonathan (Aus)
Date: 2001-07-18 00:12
Dylan,
I've got a 'transcription' of the beethoven violin concerto for clarinet instead of violin. It is (or was) published by Ricordi and the transcription was done by Giampieri and is for clarinet and piano. Copyright is 1956. Although this is a transcripion it is more of an arrangement and large chunks have been cut out. When listening to the real thing on cd it is actually quite difficult to follow where it is in the score. I believe the transcription done by Michael Collins is much more accurate.
Jonathan
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2001-07-18 05:33
The Giampieri is also in a different key. He transposed the conceto to concert Bb so the clarinet could play in C. Pletnev (who, according to the liner notes, did the present transcription, not Collins) left the concerto in its original key so the clarinet part is in E. ;^( (You'd never guess it was in such a hairy key from listening to the recording.)
Maybe it would be easier to buy the violin version and play it on a C clarinet. ;^)
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Author: William
Date: 2001-07-18 13:55
Playing the violin concerto on a C clarinet??--then we could all justify using a wide vibrato to cover-up intonation problems like all the string players do....just a "too early morning" cybercynicular thought. (serious now) Would very much like to have acces to your transcription when complete--sounds like good work going on. Good Transcribing!!!!!
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Author: dylan
Date: 2001-07-19 17:33
What an overwhelming response! I have replies for each of you, but I will post them here rather than sending personal emails so that everyone can see. To Mario - What is this website? I'd like to try contacting him as well, although if your efforts were in vain, I don't suppose than I would have any more luck. I am not at a university, and I wish I had a scanner. You're right; this job would be so much easier with a scanner. I use Finale 2001. A good program, but I just got it last month and I don't know how to utilize its full range of tools yet. (Translation: I'm punching in notes, articulations, and phrasing, but that's about it.) As for the university comment, I guess I should let everyone know that I am a senior in high school. Don't think that the transcription is of any lower quality because of my age, however. I am quite a serious clarinetist and musician. To Jonathan - this semi-transcription doesn't sound too good to me. I think Collins might be a little more true to original than I as well. I have kept as many of the original notes as possible, but I have taken some passages down an outave which Mr. Collins have kept up there in the starasphere. (I'm not too fond of tounging 16th notes on super-high G's and A's). To Jack - Actually, I did my transcription for the A clarinet. In addition to making the key be in F major (a not-so-hairy key), I can also play one half tone lower thabn the Bb clarinet, and so I can get out some lower notes than with the Bb. Also, the A clarinet gives the piece a darker, more serious tone, which I think s appropriate for Beethoven. Also, I am not sure about the legality here in the US of selling uncopywrighted music. I live in NYC, and there are many music publishers near my house. I think I'll go in one day and ask if it is legal to sell my transcription, once I finish it. (I am only done with the !st movement). If it is legal, thenm I would be more than happy to provide it to any clarinetist who wants to use it at a reasonably low price. -Dylan
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-07-20 12:20
As far as I can tell, Collins played on a Basset Clarinet in A. The Violin Concerto is in D (concert pitch) which appears to be Eb on the Basset Clarinet, not such a hard key to play. He may have benefited from the few extra low notes available as well.
In the sleeve notes, Collins said it was one of the hardest things he had ever played, with extended passages of arpeggios which you would normally only get in a technical study exercise.
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-07-20 12:25
No that can't be right. On an A clarinet, the violin concerto would appear to be in F major, one of the easiest keys there is on the clarinet.
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