 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-12-22 07:41
Well, I've finally got the clarinet in A that I've been dreaming about for months. I bought it after joining an orchestra and being confronted with some tricky scores in five or six sharps. But suddenly I'm wondering what else to play on it. I bought the Schumann Fantasy pieces, and the A version of the Mozart concerto. But I'd be very grateful if anyone could give me some tips about other pieces (preferably with piano accompaniment) that are specific for this instrument. I assume that I keep practicing from my usual books (Klose and Baermann for the most part). I'm quite surprised at the difference in tone. Although both my instruments are Buffet Crampon RC, the A sounds woodier and more mellow, and is more resistant to blow. Is this usual?
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-12-22 16:06
Congratulations! Have fun with your new baby! The first two of the Stravinsky Three Pieces are in A (but that's solo) and the Brahms and Mozart Quintets as well. The Mozart is available with piano accompaniment, though the edition I have is for B flat with piano (the piano part is changed), I'm not sure if there is an edition for A and piano. The A does have a different character than the B flat as you described and it is slightly more resistant (though you'll get used to this very quickly).
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Author: William
Date: 2001-12-22 21:14
Paul Hindemuth, "Concerto For Clarinet" in A. One of my favs. Have fun and Good A Clarineting!!!! (they do blow differently)
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Author: Rob
Date: 2001-12-22 23:18
I seem to recall a Poulenc piece for 2 clarinets, in Bb and A.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-12-23 00:11
Some of the more well known pieces for Clarinet in A are:
1. Honegger - Sonatine (very charming - with a jazzy 3rd movement)
2. Spohr - Concerto #4 (very under rated - goes up to altissimo B - an interesting final movement: Spanish Rondo)
3. Rachmaninoff - Vocalise (looks deceptively easy - lots of endurance and control)
4. Nielsen - Concerto (no comment needed... ) GBK
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-12-23 02:36
To GBK
Thanks for the tip about Vocalise. It is sheer beauty. The Nielsen is yet beyond me though.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-12-23 03:22
beejay...Don't overlook the Honegger's Sonatine. It is the only A clarinet solo piece of the French composers "Le Groupe des Six" (Durey, Poulenc, Auric, Honegger, Milhaud, Tailleferre) from the early part of the 1900's...GBK
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2001-12-23 17:27
Sutermeister specifies A clarinet for his Capriccio
A few 20th Century British Concertos (but, unfortunately, all probably out-of-print):
Heaton-Smith
Hoddinott
Veale
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Larry Liberson
Date: 2001-12-23 18:59
Besides the Honegger, there is the very pretty Nino Rota Sonata in D (I will be perfoming both of these, in fact, in March), the Schumann Three Romances (for oboe, but the transcription for clarinet in A is often done--and if you think the Fantasy Pieces are windy, just try these!)) and the Reger Sonata (Op. 49, No. 2, I think...).
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-12-24 20:29
Stravinsky 3 Pieces for Clarinet Solo -- # 1 and # 2 are specified for A clarinet, # 3 for Bb.
There are transcriptions of the Mozart Quintet and, I think, the Brahms Quintet for A clarinet and piano. The Brahms Trio also calls for A clarinet.
The Saint-Saens Tarantelle is for Flute, A Clarinet and piano.
Oboe d'amore is in A. Therefore, any of the Bach arias for voice, oboe d'amore and continuo will work on A clarinet. There's also a reconstruction for a Bach Oboe d'Amore concerto that is probably available with a piano reduction.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2001-12-29 16:02
First, *congratulations* on your new instrument. I hope that it opens up a lot of new possibilities for you.
This is off the beaten path, but if you play folk music with other strings (mandolin, fiddle, etc.) they will want to play in sharp keys. The A instrument is a life-saver for me, especially for Romanian folk tunes, which are often in A. For a classical analog, Saint-Saens "Tzigone" (sp?) violin solo has the B flat clarinet solo on the first page in B major. This is quintessential Romanian material.
The abilitiy to read C or B flat parts on your A instrument is a good skill to have. Another idea: the clarinet part in "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" is in 7 sharps - playing it on your A clarinet put it in only 4 sharps, and the high note is a G, much easier to control then an F#. A lot of band directors would call this cheating, but your sound will be darker, and you will be may find yourself able to *sing* a lot better.
(I don't know your age or educational status - kick me if I have guessed wrong.) A valid comment is that, during your formative years, playing parts as written is a valid educational requirement, and using an alternate instrument puts you at an unfair advantage with regard your fellow players. On the other hand, being able to transpose on sight is a great skill, one that having a clarinet in an alternate key will give you options to practice (within a limited sense.) It should be apparent that I am of the latter opinion, but at this point in your carreer it will be to your advantage to aquiesce to your teacher(s) preferences. In the woodshed, you can still practice playing B flat parts a half step up on your A instrument and vice versa.
(I once played an entire band concert in Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor on my A clarinet. The director was apalled when I broke this news to him the week before the event, but he relented in a hurry when told that I had been playing the A in rehearsals for the last month, and he hadn't noticed.)
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