The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jonathan Farquhar (Aus)
Date: 2002-02-09 01:43
Does anyone have any ideas of pieces (duets or trios) that would be suitable for arranging into the combination of Mezzo-soprano and clarinet, (with or without piano). I have done quite a few of the standard pieces for soprano, clarinet, and piano. Unfortunately my current singer is a mezzo and we've kind of exhausted the limited repertoire for that combination (mezzo) and the soprano songs that have a lower tessitura - although if there are any new pieces written i'd be interested.
Your suggestions can be anything from classical to new works that you think may be suitable for the clarinet to play instead of a violin, viola, cello', french horn, flute or whatever and also if it transposes to bass clarinet that would be fine too.
Thank you,
Jonathan Farquhar
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Author: kburnett@neoone.com.au
Date: 2002-02-09 04:13
Hi Jonathan,
If you've not played this one you and your colleagues are in for a great treat: Look for the aria "parto, parto" from Mozart's opera " la clemenza di tito". The opera calls for the fabulous obligato in this aria to be played on a basset clarinet in Bb, but there is an arrangement for Bb clarinet and piano (with sop. of course!), lurking around somewhere.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2002-02-09 09:13
The Nocturnes by Mozart could be wonderfully arranged for clarinet or bass clarinet and mezzo.
By the way, I think kburnett must be referring to basset horn in F, no?
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Author: donald nicholls
Date: 2002-02-09 10:06
i've got a feeling that kburnett is right actually to say "basset clarinet" (a normal clarinet that extends to low C) in B flat (not in A as is called for in the concerto and quintet). i seem to recall that there are a few (very few) moments where this instrument was called for by Mozart and this is one of them, crazy as it seems to us now (the basset clarinet in B flat being a rather difficult instrument to get hold of these days!!!!!!!!)
nzdonald
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Author: Iván Martínez
Date: 2002-02-10 06:19
I play the Brahms's two song, originlay for voice, viola and piano. with the part of viola transcribed to Bb clarinet, this is a good and beatuful piece. Mozart's "parto, parto" and "voi che sapete, che cosa e amor", are good piece, too. And other music, if the mezzo range is flexibly.
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2002-02-10 06:52
There is a wonderful mezzo aria from Saint-Saens Sampson and Delilah. It has a very nice clarinet part. You could perhaps get the music for soprano and piano and then play the clarinet solos in the appropriate places instead of piano. A score would help you do this correctly. Just an idea.
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Author: Iván Martínez
Date: 2002-02-10 06:54
I was consulted and this music was wrote for soprano/mezzosoprano voice and clarinet (with and without piano):
Jacob, Gordon Three Songs (voice and clarinet)
Vaughan Williams, Ralph Three Vocalises (voice and clarinet)
Voice, clarinet and piano:
Bliss, Arthur Two Nursery Rhymes
Childs, Barney Seven Epigrams
Cooke, Arnold Three Songs of Innocence
Gaveaux, Pierre "Aria", from Le Trompeur trompe
Hook, James Three Songs
Massenet, Jules "Pleurez! pleurez mes yeux!" from Le Cid
Meyerbeer, Giacomo Hirtenlied
Mozart, W. A. ˇ "Non Piu di Fiori" ˇ "Parto! Ma tu ben mio" from La Clemenza di Tito, K. 621 Schott
Rorem, Ned Ariel
Seiber, Mátyás Drei Morgenstern lieder
Schubert, Franz ˇ "Totus in Corde Lanqueo" from Offertory in C ˇ "Romanze" from Die Verschworenen ˇ Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, Op. 129
Spohr, Ludwig Six German Songs, Op. 103
And for voice, clarinet and flute:
Copland, Aaron As It Fell Upon a Day
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Author: beejay
Date: 2002-02-10 09:40
I have a much-treasured album called "Sono Sposo e sono amante" for soprano, clarinet and orchestra. (Koch-Schwann 3-6712-2) with a wonderful set of variations from Rosmonda by Otto Nicolai. Also on the CD are:
Louis Spohr: "Ich bin allein,des Abends Nähe" from Faust.
Franz Schubert: Romance ("Ich Schleiche bang' und still herum") from "Die Verschworenen."
Frantisek Skroup: Mladi's aria from "Libuse."
Johann Nepomuk: Recititive and aria from "Athalia."
Bernard Crusell: Aria "From Ganges' Beauteous Strands" from "Lilla Slafinnen."
The title piece is by Abbé Vogler.
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I'd be grateful if anyone could shed more light on the original instrumentation for Parto, parto. As a basset horn player myself, I'd always assumed it was written for that instrument, and was very interested to read kburnett's assertion that it was composed for bflat basset clarinet. It is, I believe, usually played today on a basset horn in F.
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-02-10 23:05
beejay,
There are two big arias for us in "La Clemenza di Tito". #9: Sextus' (mezzo-soprano) aria "Parto Parto", originally written for Basset clarinet in Bb (it goes all the way down to lowC) and #21: Vitellia's (soprano) aria "Non piů di fiore", written for Basset horn (in F).
They were both written for Anton Stadler who played both arias at the first performance in Sep. 1791. However, "Parto" is scored in the 1st cl. part and "Non piů" in the 2nd part, so there might be a possibility that "Parto" was also played by Johann Stadler, Anton's brother, who played 1st to Anton (2nd) in the royal court orchestra in Vienna.
To my knolege there are no modern basset clarinets in Bb in production. They are made as replicas of old instruments for autentic performances by a few makers.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-02-11 19:19
Alphie -
Steve Fox will probably make a basset clarinet in Bb, or an extension for an existing lower joint.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-02-11 21:42
He would definately be the one to ask if one needed one really badly. As far as I know the only thing to play for that instrument is "Parto" and a piece from "Cosi fan Tutte".
Alphie
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Author: beejay
Date: 2002-02-12 12:10
Alphie,
That is priceless knowledge indeed. Lacking a bflat basset clarinet, what do orchestras usually use today to play "Parto, Parto?" Clarinet or basset horn? Many thanks.
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-02-12 15:27
beejay
"Parto" is always performed on Bb clarinet. Never basset horn and has never been. Most versions are carefully adapted for regular Bb clarinet just like the concerto and the quintett have been adapted for regular A-clarinet. There are a few different editions around and they all have their own suggestions on how to avoid the basset notes. I don't particulary like any of those I have seen so I made my own version.
Alphie
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Author: donald
Date: 2014-02-05 04:39
Hi there,
resurecting an old thread- I'm looking for music for MEZZO-soprano (many of the suggestions above are for soprano) so if anyone has any suggestions please let me know (I'm certainly going to look into some of the pieces above, but many of them are not suitable for a Mezzo).
It is well established that Parto was composed for Basset CLARINET (and since my posting above in 2002 I've played that piece many times in opera and various recitals) so we don't need to continue discussion on the Basset clarinet if that's ok with you.
Any suggestions?
d
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Author: davyd
Date: 2014-02-06 08:15
There are three volumes of Bach: Arias From Church Cantatas for Contralto with obbligato instruments. In some cases, that instrument is Oboe d'amore, parts for which can be played on the A clarinet without transposition. There are also similar collections of soprano arias, tenor arias, bass arias, and soprano and alto duets. In all cases that I've seen, the piano accompaniments are fully written out, so knowledge of figured bass isn't necessary.
Post Edited (2014-02-08 01:30)
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