 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brian Peterson
Date: 2004-11-11 12:03
Was driving home last night and heard an arrangement for flute of the Brahms 1st Sonata for clarinet. I guess you could say that it was a nice performance, but I have to say it really torques me that flute players who already have far more solo music to choose from than we clarinetists do somehow feel like they have to "borrow" from us. It equally perturbs me when I hear arrangements of "our" stuff for violin. Like they don't have enough material already.
Oh well, thanks for letting me vent.
Brian
Post Edited (2004-11-11 22:55)
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-11-11 13:50
I had the same reaction a year ago or so when I heard the flute arrangement on the radio...
As far as the violinists...I've been working (on and off) on an arrangement of the Brahms First Violin Sonata for clarinet...Just let them come after me!
I've been wondering too about the 1st Cello sonata...
Katrina
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-11-11 14:43
IMHO, the best ever recording of Op. 120 # 1 was by Isaac Stern. I have it on an old Columbia LP, but I don't think it's been reissued on CD.
The Brahms sonatas have even been recorded on French horn, which, of course, doesn't work well, but horn players have an even smaller repertoire than clarinetists.
And wait till you hear it on double bass or pan-flute.
Let 'em have their fun. We know what instrument they're really for. Even viola (which Brahms officially sanctioned) just isn't right.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Sarah
Date: 2004-11-11 14:47
My teacher showed me a score yesterday that was arranged for orchestra! He said some strange things were done, but won't let me look at it closely until my recital is over.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-11-11 15:30
I have a recording of Michele Zukovsky playing it w/Orchestra. Berio did the arrangement - she did the West Coast premiere of it.
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Author: marcia
Date: 2004-11-11 16:49
Slight digression-I once heard the Beethoven violin Concerto done on a piano. I beleive (but am not certain by any means) it was Beethoven's own arrangement. IM (not so)HO, it did NOT work.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-11-11 16:57
Quite often it doesn't work well but sometimes it can and gives us a fresh interpretation without the cookie cutter approach which is often used. To not follow the composers intentions/wishes would be nothing less than arrogant, but there can also sometimes be a fresh approach.
sometimes
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-11-11 17:12
I once heard a classical saxophonist do one of the Brahms Sonatas, Yikes!!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-11-11 18:47
Baroque literature is a staple of the classical saxophone repertoire.
Bach played well on alto sxophone can be very expressive.
For that matter, Bach can work on practically any instrument...GBK
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2004-11-11 19:16
"...To not follow the composers intentions/wishes would be nothing less than arrogant,..."
I have performed my own arrangements or transcriptions of many pieces not originally written for the clarinet by such composers as Bach, Beethoven, Satie, Ravel, Prokofiev, Piazzolla, Villa-Lobos, Lees, Rorem, and many others. I have never thought it to be arrogant, only a personal quest to play great music on my own instrument, the instrument I know best to personally voice that music.
In the case of living composers, such as Ned Rorem, Benjamin Lees and others, I have asked their permission before making the arrangements. In each case, they were pleased that I would be interested in playing their music and were curious to hear the outcome.
Tom Piercy
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-11-11 19:26
wait, wait - no, wasn't referring to instrumentation. I was talking about interpretation.
I personally like arrangements!
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2004-11-11 20:28
ahhhh...interpretation...
Well, there you may have caught me in a bit of arrogance.
All the best,
Tom Piercy
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Author: Sarah
Date: 2004-11-11 21:14
Hrm, I think you misunderstood what I wrote, or I said it wrong. Its for a full orchestra, not orchestra and clarinet. The entire piano and clarinet parts were orchestrated. I think the clarinet didn't come in for quite a few measures.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-11-12 20:30
Tom and David,
I don't consider either of your statements arrogant. As in Tom's experience, I think that most composers would be flattered to see someone inspired enough to engage in arranging it for ANYTHING. (well, I don't know about the kazoo...but Peter Schikele might bring it off)
In the one case where I asked someone for permission to adapt something, they were very enthusiastic about the idea.
I confess that I am jealous of the quantity/variety of literature available to other instruments, but I wouldn't trade our staple pieces for any other instrument's. Isn't it nice that they recognize this also?
FYI, Classical Music for Dummies lists Brahms' B minor Quintet in its top 10 pieces of chamber music that you should have.
Besides, those who adapt music do so at their own risk. It's hard to sell anything classical to the listening pubilc, and a poor adaption of an existing piece would probably cause the arranger to be eaten alive by his/her peers.
Allen Cole
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Author: Nick Angiolillo
Date: 2004-11-12 21:16
I borrowed a CD once from the library that had a recording of the Beethoven violin concerto played on a clarinet. It was... interesting, but ultimately ineffectual.
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Author: rbell96
Date: 2004-11-13 11:22
Wondered how long it would be before the Beethoven Violin transcription was mentioned !
Rob
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