 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Gary Shiozaki
Date: 2001-12-17 22:26
My son's orchestra director has informed him that they will be performing Beethoven's Symphony #6, the Pastoral. I understand that the first clarinet part is "wicked". My son, Kenny, likes challenges, and is frothing at the mouth in anticipation...a definite Pavlovian reaction. Question. Does anyone here on Sneezy know where I can obtain the first clarinet parts for this symphony? I'd like Kenny to have a decent amount of practice on this before the first rehearsal on Jan 5 so that he can surprise his director. Thanks.
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Author: Al
Date: 2001-12-17 23:09
Write or phone:
Kalmus&Co.,Inc (561) 241-6340
Music Publishers
P.O.Box 5011
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Get a good recording of a major orchestra and listen, listen,listen.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-12-17 23:42
Gary...You also might consider purchasing for your son (an excellent Christmas gift, by the way) a copy of "The Orchestral Clarinetist" (Bloch)
Volume 1 (there are 3 volumes) contains the orchestral excerpts of the important clarinet "moments" in Beethoven #6 along with some VERY HELPFUL insight and performance suggestions by Kalmen Bloch (former solo clarinetist - Los Angeles Philharmonic).
All the major orchestral works which pertain to clarinet are thoroughly covered in these three volumes. If your child is serious about music (and it sounds like he is) these would make a fine addition to his music library. He will be playing many of these works eventually in his orchestral experiences.
You can order this volume or all three from a variety of sources. On the Sneezy sponsor page, find Gary Van Cott "Clarinet Books and More". He has the books available immediately (I recently ordered a set for one of my students).
Many of the major clarinet excerpts will be asked on any college performance audition. It is never too early to start studying them...GBK
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Author: Suzanne
Date: 2001-12-18 00:43
The part isn't so wicked technically in terms of speed, but rather in terms of clean, good articulation/staccato, rhythm, and dynamic control.
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-12-18 01:12
Also http://www.lucksmusic.com/
Very good service, but there's a $10 minimum order.
I've played the orchestral excerpts from this symphony, there's a beautiful solo in the slow movement. Good breath support, tone and smooth register changers are very important. And the slow solo has to be very expressive!
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Author: diz
Date: 2001-12-18 01:42
A trip to a "decent" sized library will probably yeild good results - especially if it's a music specific or conservatorium library. Also, mini (study) scores are availble for only a few dollars (even cheaper, second hand).
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Author: susannah
Date: 2001-12-18 03:55
it would probably be more benificial to listen to CDs rather than to play the excerpts. The parts are not "technically" difficult , the difficulty comes in not learning the notes but actually playing them musically. The clarinet solos are a pretty minor part of the symphony as a whole, I doubt that they will be the directors first concerns. Let him get to know the whole work and he will be well prepared to tackle it next year.
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Author: Larry Liberson
Date: 2001-12-18 04:56
Not "technically" difficult? Well. if what you mean by "technique" is simply "playing fast," then you might be correct.
However, if you view clarinet technique more correctly and include ALL "technical" aspects of playing, such as articulation (the proper stroke of the tongue at the appropriate time), legato, tonal control, etc.--not to mention rhythm and pitch--this Beethoven symphony becomes (as they all do) a very, very difficult piece which requires careful and dilligent attention and practice.
Is it any surprise that in the "real" world of professional symphony orchestras that Beethoven symphonies are among the very first pieces asked of those auditioning? Do you know why?
Because they're so difficult.
Sometimes what appears to be "simple" is anything but!
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Author: HAT
Date: 2001-12-18 05:10
Once again, LL has hit the nail on the head. Beethoven 6 is on every audition you'll ever take. It's there because most people can't play it. Either they can't get the notes to come out, can't play the written dynamics or can't play anything in one tempo.
Which excerpt does the above refer to? ALL OF THEM!!!!
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-12-18 05:34
susannah wrote: "The clarinet solos are a pretty minor part of the symphony as a whole..."
Susannah...Get out your CD and listen again!! The clarinet writing in this work exemplifies almost all the stylistic possibilities which the clarinet can portray. Beethoven knew the voice he wanted to express these emotions, and wisely chose the clarinet to do so.
Is there a wind instrument featured more prominently in this symphony? I think not.
Successful and convincing playing of the excerpts to the 6th symphony are some of the most difficult and treacherous (in performance) passages to navigate.
Ask any pro - they cherish the opportunity to play this great work, but wisely know the pitfalls...GBK
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Author: susannah
Date: 2001-12-18 09:46
To all the people that wrote after me, (Larry Liberson, HAT, GBK) I agree with everything you have said, especially about the technical stuff. I have played it both with symphony orchestras and in many auditions and it is undoubtably a VERY HARD clarinet part.
Often though, developing musicians, such as this woman's son do not recognise all the finer techniques (such as L.L. mentioned) and practise of the notes alone may not help. (Don't take that to literally, of course practise always helps.)
I also completely agree with the fact that they are extremely difficult to play. They are hard, but again, in a young player who is not aiming for the perfection L.L. mentioned would not find them particularly difficult. In fact, often such a player may not realise that there are these things to polish and perfect and see themeselves as playing them the best they could be.
GBK seemed to disagree that the clarinet part is quite minor within the symphony. This I am still not convinced about. However, all his points I agree completely with, eg:
"Beethoven knew the voice he wanted to express these emotions, and wisely chose the clarinet to do so. Is there a wind instrument featured more prominently in this symphony? Successful and convincing playing of the excerpts to the 6th symphony are some of the most difficult and treacherous (in performance) passages to navigate. Ask any pro - they cherish the opportunity to play this great work, but wisely know the pitfalls..."
Yep, all perfectly true. The clarinet takes the limelight in the wind section, but surely a quick look at the score would convince you that the stings carry the biggest part. The clarinet solos are beautiful and important within the work but really would not be the condictors greatest concern. This is especially true in a youth orchestra situation where the strings are almost always the weakest section.
GBK's points about how skillfully Beethoven wrote for the instrument and how important they are to our repertoire are all perfectly true, but this does not necessarily mean that they are more important to the symphony as a whole (not everybody is a clarinettist listening out for 'the hard bits', in fact such is the nature of these excerpts that a really good player should make them sound easy).
I still believe the best approach that this young clarinettist should take is to listen lots to the piece and get a good overall understanding as this will help with the finer points of musicianship that have been mentioned.
Thanks for making me think, and I look foward to further postings.
Susannah
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Author: susannah
Date: 2001-12-18 09:47
sorry gary, I wrote: 'this woman's son' and then saw your name. Sincere apologies.
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Author: Gary Shiozaki
Date: 2001-12-18 16:01
To Susannah,
No offense taken at all...thank you very much for your input.
To all,
Our sincerest thanks. We've purchased several CDs of Beethoven's 6th, and will proceed with your suggestions as to sheet music. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years to all!!
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Author: Suzanne
Date: 2001-12-18 22:07
I thought I presented my view of technique as including articulation, rhythm, dynamic control, etc. etc. etc. in addition to speed--maybe it didn't come across that way.
By the way, Beethoven 6 ranked #1 as the most frequently asked-for excerpt in a survey of orchestral audition repertoire for clarinet.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-12-18 23:02
Suzanne wrote: "...By the way, Beethoven 6 ranked #1 as the most frequently asked-for excerpt in a survey of orchestral audition repertoire for clarinet."
I rest my case...GBK
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Author: ur
Date: 2001-12-25 19:40
how much better can u get then szell's recording of beethoven 6? (marcellus, *drool*)
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