 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2002-09-03 12:21
I was wondering how many people know of this piece? Is it popular in the states, Piston being american and all... I think its a really fun piece, I have to perform it next Tuesday at college and then again on the Saturday (I feel sorry for the accompanist). its such a fun piece, I think it is very cool. Anyway........
The 2nd part of this post is about my end of year recital program (school year ends in november here). I need help deciding what to do. I only have about a 25 minuite time frame roughly, and the peices I've been working on are the Piston (12 mins in its entirity), Stravinsky 3 Pieces, Spohr's 1st Concerto 1st movement (11-12 mins), and Muczynski Time Pieces (probably the 1st or 4th (3-5 mins?)). Would doing 2 Concertos (Piston and Spohr 1st movement) be a bad choice? I could easily though a movement of a Brahms in there if need be for contrast, but i would love to doing Piston and Spohr. It would be good time have an unaccompanied piece though..
AHHH!!!! Help!
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-09-03 13:49
I don't think the Piston is very popular in the U.S. I can't remember seeing it on anyone's recital/performance list in "The Clarinet" (though it may have been done). It is a technically challenging piece but the critics that I have read consider it "academic" sounding (which usually means they don't see much creative spark and it's designed for other academicians rather than the general public) or, to quote a comment on the web, "the work of a tired composer."
http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/july99/ariel.htm
It hasn't been recorded much, either. The earliest recording that I am aware of was a lacklustre performance by my favorite clarinetist (NOT!) John Russo. For a long time, it was the only available recording and, I'm afraid, those critics who have based their opinion on Russo's performance have not heard the work in its best light.
I believe there is also a recording by Harold Wright among the releases of his performances that have come out since his death. I have not heard that one. And, as you are probably aware, there has been a relatively recent recording on the Australian label, ABC Classics, by Paul Dean. IMHO, Dean gives the work a far better performance than the Russo but still not enough to sell me on the piece. (The absolute gem on this recording, BTW, is IMHO the Veale Concerto, which should have been recorded long ago. Richard Stoltzman, where were you when we needed you?)
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2002-09-03 14:00
Yeah I have that recording by Paul Dean - he's my teacher. Life wouldn't be worth living if I didn't buy a copy of his cd :P I love the Veale but I have a friend who has already played it (he won a competition and got to play it with a pro orchestra). I decided to do the Piston because I thought it sounded so cool and crazy to a certain degree.
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2002-09-03 15:51
Aussie Nick
Hi! I'm learned from Robert Schubert in Melbourne... I was thinking of coming up there to study with Paul Dean - what's he like?
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-09-03 21:47
Yes, Wright did record it and it is available on the Boston Records label. Very nice performance.
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Author: rmk
Date: 2002-09-05 04:17
There's a wonderful moment in the slow movement that uses just the solo plus the orchestral clarinets.
It's a shame this isn't performed more often. While hardly a masterpiece, it's at least as good as Weber #2.
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Author: robert
Date: 2002-09-07 03:33
yes, I've performed this piece in the US at a solo and ensemble festival when I was in tenth grade last year. Your right, it is a somewhat crazy piece but a very exciting piece to play. But I agree with the others that this isn't exactly a popular concerto here. Walter Piston's most famed wind band piece is Tunbridge Fair (sorry if I spelled that wrong). It is a real challenge to put together, but all in all shares some things with the concerto.
---Robert---
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