 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-06-12 04:42
Hello, tomorrow I will hear the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. This is a "clarinet featured" concert. They will be playing:
Mendelssohn: Konzertstück No. 1 for Clarinet and Basset Horn
Bloch: Schelomo (arrangment for bass clarinet and orchestra)
Ora Bat Chaim/arr. Sergei Abir: Love For Life
Piazzolla/arr. Raul Jaurena: Two Tangos ("Libertango" and "Los Pajaros Perdidos")
Gershwin/arr. Steve Murray: Porgy and Bess Suite
Now, the special guest is Giora Feidman. He's apparently the king of klezmer. Does anyone know who Giora Feidaman is? And what does Klezmer mean?
thanks.
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-06-12 19:43
>>OH, I'm so unobservant...
No you're not. You mentioned Mendelssohn, Gershwin etc, then Feidman and Klezmer.
If you know nothing about them, why should you necessarily associate them with 'Ethnic'?
Steve
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-06-13 01:45
Hello all,
I would be interested to know where and if there is a commercially-available recording of "Bruch's Schlomo arranged for bass clarinet and orchestra". Any ideas?
Thank you in advance.
Willy
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2005-06-13 02:02
If you haven't heard Feidman, you are in for such a treat. I heard him in person at the Salt Lake City Clarinet Fest. He is incredible. I have never heard a clarinet whisper before, but he did it! I will never forget his concert. Klezmer is either raucous and rowdy or soft and sad. Have a wonderful time!
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-06-13 02:22
Review on the concert:
It was absolutely fantastic! The opening piece, Mendelssohn: Konzertstück No. 1 for Clarinet and Basset Horn. 1.Allegro di molto, 2.Andante, 3. Allegro molto
Soloists: Dennis Smylie, basset horn
Joaquin Valdepenas, clarinet
I loved the blend of the basset horn and the clarinet. Joaquin, clarinet was so enthusiastic.
Following, Bloch: Schelomo (arrangment for bass clarinet and orchestra)
Solo bass clarinet: Giora Feidman
This was my favourite. Giora on the bass, his sound was so monstrous. At the beginning of the piece, he was playing in the audience with a B-flat clarinet and he slowly walked onto the stage then changed to the bass clarinet. At first i had no clue what what going on but then I saw a guy playing a clarinet and I knew. When they were preparing for the piece a lot of new instruments came onto the stage, it calls for a lot of instruments: 3 flutes, piccolo, 3 oboes, english horn, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, 2 harps, celeste, and 7 DOUBLE BASSES!
I loved the wind instruments in this one, particularly the flutes/piccolo, oboe, bassoon and the trumpets, trombones and tubas.
Then it was a trio fro 2 clarinet and 1 double bass.
Ora Bat Chaim/arr. Sergei Abir: Love For Life it was the world premiere of this piece! Clarinet, Joaquin and Giora, double bass, Joel Quarrington.
1. Dance of the Caressing Lights, 2. Waltz from those days, 3. Freilach Ron, 4. The softness of the sound, 5. Happy Tune.
The bass, he was so energetic in his high-chair. It was a romantic piece, my favourite happy tune. It was basically Giora who had the tune of the piece, while Joaquin had kind of the off-beats with the double bass.
Piazzolla/arr. Raul Jaurena: Two Tangos ("Libertango" and "Los Pajaros Perdidos")
Solo: Giora, clarinet.
This was another one of my favourites, kind of jazzy. Something you can dance too. Giora wasn't even looking at his music 80% of the time in this piece! It looked like he was staring at one of the violinists.
And Lastly, Gershwin/arr. Steve Murray: Porgy and Bess Suite
solo: Giora, clarinet
I can't explain this one, it was that amazing!
Giora Feidman can make so many unusual and bizzare sounds with his clarinet. Most of the time it doesn't even sound like a clarinet.
"It is difficult to describe, what he does on the stage with his clarinet, how it laughs, cries and narrates, captivating his listeniners, constantly amazing them with something new."
I hope someone finds this interesting!
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-06-13 02:24
Oops, forgot to mention, the last piece. The conductor, was soloing with giora on his violin! Before the piece Giora said "the maestro decided to bring his violin" and everyone laughed.
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2005-06-13 13:09
Feidman has recorded the Kol Nidre for Koch/Schwann; the CD is titled "Giora Feidman Plays and the Angels Sing". I played this CD for some musician friends a while back. One of my friends (a flutist) made a disparaging comment about Feidman's unusual bass clarinet sound. Ed Cabarga, my successor as NSO bass clarinetist replied "the man's not playing bass clarinet, he's playing music!" To which I heartily agree!
Larry Bocaner
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Author: hartt
Date: 2005-06-13 13:48
I've not had the opportunity to hear Mr. Feidman in concert/person but I've several of his CDs and enjoy his playing immensely.
A most memorable performance of Klezmer Clarinet music was performed by the International clarinetist, Rebecca Rischin at the 2002 Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium.
I find listening to Klezmer clarinet music a welcome departure from the 'usual' mainstay of the classical venue.
now go practice
regards
dennis
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-06-13 15:33
Hello Bbclarinetist,
Thanks for the review. Would've loved to be there.
Did you happen to notice if Feidman played a low Eb or low C bass? Or both?
Willy
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-06-13 16:15
What a blessing to hear Feidman in person. I have some of his CDs and he is absolutely an awesome player.
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-06-13 20:04
BassetHorn, I'm not exactly sure how to tell the difference of a low eb or a low c bass clarinet. Sorry.
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Author: Gardini
Date: 2005-06-13 21:26
What a treat, you had. I have Feidman's Ora Bat Chaim recording. I love Alaska but living here is a bit out of the loop at times. Though it happens on occasion, we have had Henri Bok, Kurt Bjorling and Larry Bocaner in Juneau. I was just listening to a Feidman Klezmer CD (music of Isreal) on some headphones yesterday. It was pure music, as Larry relayed in his post. The whisper and moans he can (intentionally) get out of a clarinet are amazing. The moans I get from my playing, usually come from my cats, wife or teacher.
Paul
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-06-13 22:25
Dont' be confused, Ora has composed numerous pieces for Giora. Some have been recorded.
What you listened to yesterday was a world premiere.
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Author: Gardini
Date: 2005-06-13 23:19
The CD I was referring to is "Feidman Plays Bloch/Olivero/Bar Chaim." I haven't have it out for a long time, I don't remember the exact pieces. I'll give it a listen again tonight.
"Clarinetango" is a wonderful Feidman recording as well. I think that there are some posts on the ethnic board about this CD. Out of all the non classical clarinet music I have shown my classical teacher, this is his favorite CD. He'll take a pass on David Murray and Hamiet Bluiett.
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-06-17 18:28
Hello,
I am trying to find a copy of a Feidman's 1994 recording "Feidman plays Bloch, Olivero, Ora Bat Chaim" and apparently it's out of print. I guess this means it will be very be difficult or impossible to find a copy readily for sale.
I have been keeping my eyes open on the Evil online auction site but haven't had any luck either.
I dearly would love to listen to his bass clarinet version of Bloch's Schelomo. The original cello version is wonderful.
Can anyone help me with this? Where can I find a copy? Fortunately my local store was able to order the "Feidman Plays and Angels sing" for me.
Thank you in advance.
Willy
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Author: mikeW
Date: 2005-06-17 20:02
I had been looking for the Feidman recording of Schelomo a while back and tried to order it, but had my credit card refunded as it was out of stock. Your post motivated me to try again, and searching through amazon.com, I found another merchant that supposedly has it (at least my order went through). Ask me in a couple of weeks if I got it...
You might contact them directly as to availability. The e-mail is: info@caiman.com
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-06-17 20:07
Unfortunately I couldn't find anything that you specified. Darn, I wish I snuck a pocket recorder in my pocket haha...
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-06-17 20:18
I'm kinda bummed that Feidman has already transcribed/recorded Bloch's Schelomo substituting bass clarinet for the solo cello --- I was listening to an awesome Ofrah Harnoy recording of the piece a couple of weeks ago and thinking how well it would work as a bass clarinet feature --- since the cello and extended-range bass clarinet are in about the same tessitura and because the piece was (I read somewhere) originally intended for a solo voice and thus there are no double/triple stops as you'd normally expect in a string instrument solo part. So much for having an 'original' thought...By the way, to anyone who has heard the Feidman recording: is the regular orchestral bass clarinet part still there? It's a nice little part, would be a shame if it got changed or deleted because of the presence of a solo bass clarinet.
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-06-17 20:32
Thank you Mike for the lead. Hope the price was reasonable? And please do let us know if you managed to get a copy.
I am listening to Leonard Rose's recording of the piece now. At more than 20 minutes long it's a formidable piece. Powerful and passionate. Along with the Schumann, it's now a favorite cello concerto of mine. (Dvorak and Elgar never did much for me)
I also wonder how far Feidman has pushed this transcription business? Maybe there is a piano/bass clarinet version somewhere?
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Author: mikeW
Date: 2005-06-17 22:36
Well, it wasn't particularly cheap at $26, including shipping.
I agree. A bass clarinet transciption with piano reduction would be great, though I'd hate to be the pianist who has to play that section where part of the orchestra is playing in 2 while others are in 3.
I wonder if the folks at Alea Publishing have considered doing such a transcription/reduction, since they specialize in bass clarinet literature?
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Author: Gardini
Date: 2005-06-17 23:04
I bought mine on ebay, Feidman is one of my regular searches. Good luck
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