 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Mandy
Date: 2001-08-10 20:59
My teacher cannot see me until September due to study commitments and has suggested I progress my clarinet playing by taking a look at Schumanns Fantasiestucke or Mozarts Divertimenti I would be intersested to hear from people who have played these(I have a recording of the Schumann)It's also been suggested I study Suite From A Victorian Kitchen Garden which I love and already have the music for.If its any help I've been playing for six months ,the clarinet has taken over my life and I'm loving every minute of it!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-08-10 21:47
Mandy -
The Schumann Fantasy Pieces are for clarinet in A. However, # 1 is usually transposed on Bb, which avoids a couple of tricky wide slurs. # 2 and # 3 can also be transposed, but it's best to get hold of an A clarinet. They're wonderful music, with a fairly difficult piano part. You have to be careful not to play them too slowly, particularly # 1, which has to have some swing.
Many of the phrases in # 1 have feminine endings (an appoggiatura on the beat resolving to the harmonic note off the beat). You need to emphasize the first note and relax off to the second. Also, the highest note in the phrase is not always the most important or loudest. In the very first phrase, for example, the Ab is much less important than the following G, and the phrase has to be aimed toward the C just before the end. The tendency is to get softer on the descending scale, but this requires just the opposite.
You're in for a great treat on the Schumann. If you don't have an A clarinet, you can learn them on the Bb, but at least give transposing a shot on # 1. It really sounds better at the original pitch.
Mozart wrote a bunch of Divertimenti. Your teacher is probably talking about the ones originally for 3 basset horns, but often transcribed for 2 clarinets and bassoon. They're miraculous music -- using the simplest of means, they're effortlessly perfect. There's a very good recording on 3 basset horns by Eric Hoeprich and friends, playing on a Mozart-era basset horn and 2 copies. The Chicago Symphony clarinetists have a good version on modern basset horns, and a famous old recording on 2 clarinets and bassoon by Leopold Wlach and other Vienna Philharmonic players has been reissued.
I've heard From a Victorian Kitchen Garden, but don't know it well. As I remember, it's very nice.
I envy you coming to this wonderful music for the first time.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Richard
Date: 2001-08-11 10:44
Wow- Schumann's Fantasiestucke after Six months - It's taken me nearly five years to get up to that standard!(I'm 16 too)I don't know who your recording of the Schumann's by but mine's by Michael Collins and I'm totally in love with the pieces - I'm playing the last two for my grade 8 exam in a couple of months. I don't know anything about the Mozart.....But the suite from the Victorian Kitchen Garden is really nice. It's a bit easy though compared to the Fantasiestucke isn't it? My favourite movement is Exotica, but Summer and Prelude are lovely too. I know someone who plays the harp and hopefully we're going to do he suite together some time. Have you got a recording of it yet? Emma Johnson (it was written for her as you'll know) plays it really nicely - really good staccato on exotica, and the high notes on Prelude...wow. I love the idea of mimicking a bird too on spring. Anyway, I'll go now and stop rambling, but have you ever played the five bagatelles by Gerald Finzi? they kind of remind me of the suite from the Victorian Kitchen Garden. And if you want a realy fun piece to play, try the Spanish sonata by Sarah Rodgers - I love the cadenza, especially the really low down Semi quavers.....All the best anyway...
Richard
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mandy
Date: 2001-08-12 17:29
Thanks Richard,I sometimes get the feeling that my teacher is getting a bit over ambitious on my behalf but as she's heard me play more than anyone( I've had all of three lessons in the last six months,I'm 28)The Schumann sounds OK but when I see the score I probably have a heart attack.My recording is by Emma Johnson on a cd along with The Victorian Kitchen Garden,I love her tone.
Finzi's Five Bagatelles was the first music I bought other than tutor books,at first I could only attempt Carol of course but I am now working on Romance and Forlana,It will be quite some time before I,m a Grade 8 candidate ,I'm very envious but I always love to hear from other players.
Mandy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
