 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ben
Date: 2003-01-05 02:05
I can play this excerpt at 92 to the bar but when I play it that fast the trills (around bar 45) end up being more like turns (a one note tril) to stay in the rhythm of the piece, which sounds a little odd to me. All the recordings I have, inculed the L. Combs excerpt cd, play this no faster than 84.
What tempo range is most common?
I think these trill passages sound best when played as a double trill (as Combs does on his cd), but would it be better in an audition to sacrifice the trills and play the piece a little faster?
Should I be able to play double trill at 92 in this piece?
If L. Combs could have played this piece faster than 82 on his cd (which I bet he could have), why do you think he did not?
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Author: Kristin
Date: 2003-01-05 02:21
Ben,
It's good that you've been listening to recordings of the piece. On his excerpt CD, Mr. Combs specifically says to be careful not to play the excerpt too fast. The accepted tempo range is usually between 80 and 92. Therefore, your tempo of 92 is on the high side of the range. I believe in an audition it would be much better to play the excerpt at 84 or 88 with double trills than to play sloppy trills at 92. Good luck!
Kristin :-)
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Author: Larry Combs
Date: 2003-01-05 03:48
Ben-
I have had to perform this piece in a wide range of tempi and it usually is not so fast as you might think. For audition purposes I would suggest that one not try to play so fast(92 plus) but to be extremely accurate with rhythmic subdivision and above all avoid a too-heavy or too-short articulation style--think light tongue and consistent, well-focused wind flow.
Recently our orchestra used the Scherzo on tour as an encore to show off our excellent principal flute, Mathieu DuFour.
The tempo was so fast (above 104 to the bar) that I had to resort to inserting some slurs. In performance do what you must to make it sound good--in auditions play a tempo you can manage-as long as it's not TOO slow---And double trills sound best if you can manage it. Good luck!! ˙
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-01-06 00:29
Hi Larry:
I heard you play the Mendelssohn Scherzo at Interlochen when we were campers there together in the 1950's. It was terrific!
Some good memories of Montreal and St. Louis Symphonies, and some great performances by you. Thanks for the memories.
Stay well, my friend.
John
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Author: Ken
Date: 2003-01-07 00:38
I've had to struggle along with the piece in Wind Band at a suicidal 104-108 on more than one occasion. For me, air support and negotiating trills weren't as much an issue as keeping the rapid fire going and maintaining a solid, consistent tempo. Unfortunately being an anchor tonguer and single tonguing, I too had to sneak in slurs and even some slap tonguing to keep up. I'd say 80 but no faster than 92 is a safe/comfortable audition tempo. Of course, I would also make a point of obtaining recording(s) of any ensemble auditioned for (if they exist) as well as "full" clarinet parts not relying on the excerpt books alone. Pick them to pieces, study them like a hawk and play along to capture all necessary elements to ensure the music is down cold. v/r KEN
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