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 Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: clockwiser 
Date:   2007-05-31 14:48

Hi!

I'm auditioning for a place in my future school symphony orchestra. They ask for a unaccompanied piece for about 2 minutes.

I guess it doesn't have to be unaccompanied originally, and I can play only a section of the piece to fit in the 2 minutes limit.

There are soo many pieces that sound good with accompanimnt, but just DON't without. This audition reminds me of Pop Idols and American Idols and X Factors here in England.

Whats your suggestion of audition piece?

I would prefere to have piece at the ABRSM grade 7 or below.

The pieces in mind at the moment is the first movement of Stamitz Concerto no. 3 in Bb Major (concert pitch)

Many thanks!!

Frank

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: pelo_ensortijado 
Date:   2007-05-31 15:10

on very often played solo here in sweden is Erland von Koch's Monolog nr 3 for Clarinet. its two parts. the first is slow in the beginning and then accelerate and then go down again. the second is fast and trixy and keeps the same tempo.
it shows very much ones strenghts and weaknessess and are rather easy to get a grip on.
its avalible on vcisinc.com. (the only place outside sweden i have found it...)
(doesn't have any connections with the company other than finding it on the net.)
Kjell Fagéus i think did record it on the label opus3.



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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: Bassie 
Date:   2007-05-31 15:15

Not having a piano to practice with I often find myself concentrating on unaccompanied pieces... it's no good counting all those rests in a solo. So here's some ideas:

1. Some studies can be musical enough to make good stand-alone pieces.

2. There's an unaccompanied piece in an old ABRSM book I have for Grade 6 called 'King Agrippa's Meditation' - excellent fun, and not half as gnarly as all the accidentals would make out.

3. Another book of unaccompanied solos which are great fun: 'Clarinet Folk-Weave', also ABRSM I think.

If you're interested I'll try and dig out the publication details.

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: Keith Ferguson 
Date:   2007-05-31 15:51

I'm not sure how these fit with your desired degree of difficulty, but have a look at (1) Malcolm Arnold's "Fantasy For B flat Clarinet", which was composed as a competition piece for unaccompanied clarinet, and (2) Finzi's Five Bagatelles which, to my ear, sound fine without the accompanyment.

Keith Ferguson



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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2007-05-31 16:09

The Rose Etudes are much more than technical exercises. They're excellent music and are often used for auditions.

Martino, A Set for Clarinet is showy and effective, but very difficult.

Try the Sutermeister Capriccio, which not too difficult and very nice music. Keep it graceful and dancelike.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: dgclarinet 
Date:   2007-05-31 16:26

I don't know anything about what ABRSM Grade 7 means, but the Bela Kovacs book "Homage a" has some really interesting pieces for solo clarinet. The homage is to various composers..Bach, Weber, Debussy, Strauss, De Falla, etc. They're extremely well written, fun, and sound harder than they actually are. I think they would be perfect for an audition. If they go a little beyond 2 minutes, either edit carefully or make them listen to another 30 seconds.

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: katie_netie 
Date:   2007-05-31 16:58

The Fugetta (sp?) from Finzi's 5 Bagatelles works really nicely without accompaniment and is quite showy which is what you want.

Katie
Yamaha Custom SEV, Vandoren M13, Vandoren Optimum Ligature
Buffet E11 Eb Clarinet, Vandoren leather ligature and B44 mouthpiece
Going into second year university for music

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: 2E 
Date:   2007-06-02 07:17

The Stravinsky 3 Pieces are all around 2 minutes in length and unaccompanied. 2E

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: Ed 
Date:   2007-06-02 12:34

You might consider an etude, perhaps a Cavallini or Jean-Jean.

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: William 
Date:   2007-06-02 16:26

It isn't so much "what" you play, it's really how good you play that counts. And remember, most auditions are lost because of a faulty sense of rhythm or musical "timing". Usually, everyone can play all the right notes acceptably in tune, so concentrate on the rhythmic accuracy and musical phrasings of what you play. Pick something easier than more difficult--a selection you feel confident with and will show the auditioner how beautiful and musical you sound. Pick a good reed, do a light warm-up, have fun and play your best.

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: clockwiser 
Date:   2007-06-03 12:17

Thanks all of you guys! They are really helpful!

"faulty sense of rhythm or musical "timing". "

I'll make sure that I play as musically as I can :)

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: Chauncey 
Date:   2007-06-04 02:56

Bach's first cello suite. Play the Minuets. They'll love it (as long as you play it right :D)

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: Hank Lehrer 
Date:   2007-06-04 02:59

Just as Ken said Rose Etudes!

I have several that I play on all woodwind instruments as warmups (octave transpositions needed, of course).

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2007-06-04 15:23

clockwiser -

I'm worried about your recent response. The flaw that audition judges count off most for is inaccurate rhythm.

Your first priority is to play with metronomic accuracy. Only when you can do that (especially on the rests) can you start thinking about playing musically.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: Klarinet 
Date:   2007-06-04 16:11

Like you said yourself, Frank, Stamitz 3 first part can be useful. It has sweet melodical lines in it, but also parts were you can show how quick your fingers are. And if you already now this piece, you're sure that you won't have problems reading it or keeping the right tempo.

But like the others said, studies can be really great too (Uhl, Rose, Klosé, Perrier, Kovacs, Jean-Jean, Gambaro).

Remember to choose something you feel comfortable with!

Greetings



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 Re: Audition with a 2 minutes unaccompanied piece
Author: clockwiser 
Date:   2007-06-06 08:33

Yep, I will make sure I do that. Thanks for all of the support!!

Now I can go and practice with more confidence.

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