 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tim S.
Date: 2002-09-11 04:13
Hi all, I'm part of a re-enactment group that portrays a local National Guard unit at the annual Battle of New Orleans anniversary in January. The group we portray is made up of New Orleans businessmen who formed their own National Guard type unit in the 1780's and continued it past the time of the Louisiana Purchase. As part of the display, the Park has a campfire lantern tour one night, which leads guests past various tents of groups representing the many forces at the battle (American, English, French-speaking Creoles, etc.) (it's pretty cool, cannons are firing in the dark, battle plans are being reviewed, etc. :> )
My group leader, knowing that I play clarinet, asked if I would want to play music during the upcoming campfire tour to add to the atmosphere. Despite the fact that my clarinet comes from an entirely incorrect time period (1950's R-13 :> ), I'm asking the question of what music could be played during this scenario? I'm a mediocre clarinet player at best, so whatever gets picked needs to be relatively easy enough for me to play. I'm guessing the 1780s to 1814 time period would be relevant to what the people we portray would be listening to. The fact that When the Saints Go Marching In or South Rampart Street Parade isn't within this period is one hinderance that I hope you gentle readers can help me overcome :>.
Thanks,
Tim
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-09-11 04:50
Jigs and Reels, e.g., Fisher's Hornpipe. Fife and Drum Corp music.
But, when you play it on clarinet, it will sound like polka:)
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-09-11 04:58
Actually your period goes back to the early clarinets and no modern instrument is time correct for then. Your period does overlap and pass the life of Mozart, but I suspect you would be better served looking at marches and folk tunes or even hymns from the American Revolution and that immediate post revolutionary time.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-09-11 05:27
American post Revolutionary War music had its roots in the various types of music that were brought to this country. Thus the influence of English, Scottish, Irish, German, Italian, French and African tunes.
The primary text to check for historically accurate information is <i>America's Music</i> by Gilbert Chase. It is considered by many as the best survey done of the first 200 years of American music.
A few more recognizable tunes which you might consider playing:
Chester (Billings)
Star Spangled Banner (written 1814)
America (My country Tis of Thee)
Rock of Ages
There were numerous folk tunes and ballads, as well as the slave music which had African roots.
It is a fascinating period, as America was slowly developing its own identity...GBK
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-09-11 05:43
One addition: (how could I have forgotten this?)
The most highly detailed, and most frequently referenced text is <i>Our American Music</i> by John Tasker Howard. Now in it's Fourth or Fifth(?) edition, it traces the birth of American music from 1620 forward.
Not a quick read by any means, it is best used to find specific details of composers, styles, and the background and history behind the music that defined America.
Strongly recommended...GBK
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-09-11 05:59
GBK - was the setup of the band at the time similar to Europe's, i.e., 2 flutes 2 oboes 2 clarinets 2 bassoons and 2 horns? (plus drums).
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-09-11 06:31
diz...Although by far the most common colonial instrument was the violin/fiddle (played by all social/economic classes), it was common in the colonies to find fifes, English flutes (recorders), clarinets, oboes, bassoons, trumpets, trombones, french horns, violas da gamba, cellos, glass harmonica, as well as organs and various keyboards.
There were 2 types of military bands. One was specifically used for the purpose of providing entertainment (dancing, parades, social functions). This usually consisted of oboes, clarinets, bassoons and french horns. The other type of band was a "field band" which consisted of fifes and drummers. They played during marches, battles, and any other military troop duty as required...GBK
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2002-09-11 06:39
Go to this address http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mussmquery.html at the American Library of Congress and type band in the search field. There are also some instrumental solos and duets.
It is a laborious process but you can access full brass band arrangements from the period, or fairly near the period, you are after. You have to print each part page by page via the picture viewer and hey presto instant brass and reed arrangement of civil war marches.
They generally have Side and Bass drum parts, Eb clarinets, Bb Clarinets, Eb and Bb Cornets, Eb alto (horns), Bb Tenor (horns), baritone and basses. Some are incomplete but this is a great resource of music from around the civil war with typical instrumentation.
Hope this is of some help.
Mark Pinner
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-09-11 13:43
The founder of the Federal Music Society, Eric Selch, died last week, but the Society or some of its members may still be around. Selch had a Madison Avenue townhouse with early American wind instruments in display cases covering every inch of the walls. He gave me a tour many years ago, and it was an amazing place.
He organized a few concerts in the 1970s using his collection (mostly brass, fifes and drums), but nobody knew how to play them very well, and they weren't restored, so the intonation was (to put it charitably) somewhat approximate.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Tim S.
Date: 2002-09-12 18:31
Thanks to all for your replies, they've given me a few places to go look. I found the Howard book on a used sellers list cheap, that'll be coming soon.
Would anyone have ideas for French music of the period (1780s-1814) that I can incorporate? Our group is supposed to be made up by French speaking New Orleanians, who have only been American citizens for the 10 yrs or so since the Louisiana Purchase. According to our portrayal, they're not too happy to have the Americans (Kentucky woodsmen and Tennessee Volunteers) here either much less the British. But being between a rock and a hard place, they'll take their chances with Les Americaines. :>
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-09-13 05:58
The French national anthem,<i>La Marseillaise</i>, was composed in 1792...GBK
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Author: jean
Date: 2002-09-13 20:13
You may also want to contact the Shrine to Music Museum at the University of South Dakota for their expertise.
If any of you want to see a great collection, this is a wonderful museum. It is in Vermillion, South Dakota. I am from So Dak, and yes it is the middle of nowhere, but for serious historians well worth the trip.
Jean
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