 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SlyMongoose
Date: 2008-11-24 19:38
I'm a college-level saxophonist who has also been studying clarinet for about five years. I took on a clarinet student this Fall and have been trying to find a good first solo for her (she's a high school freshman and has never played a solo w/piano). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. The audition piece for her concert band this year was the Weber Concertino and, while she could get through a few of the excerpts, I don't think she's ready to tackle anything like that yet.
Thanks!
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Author: pewd
Date: 2008-11-24 20:00
Stamitz Concerto #3 in Bb, publisher: Peters
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: kdk
Date: 2008-11-25 00:53
There are two sonatas by Johann Wanhall (I prefer the first for teaching purposes) that are much easier than Weber, Stamitz, et al, but give you a chance to expose a student to some basic classical form without the relatively virtuosic demands of the standard pieces of concert literature. The Mendelssohn Sonata isn't nearly as difficult as Weber, either and is musically interesting *enough* to be useful as a teaching piece. If these, too are too difficult, then there are lots of collections by the various school music publishers of shorter transcriptions with accompaniments.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-11-25 03:24
The Tartini/Jacob Concertino (published by Boosey and Hawkes) might be worth considering, too. It's what you might call a "patchwork" transcription of Baroque violin music by Tartini (various movements borrowed from Tartini works). It's not too difficult (and you probably wouldn't have to do the whole thing, either).
The Saint-Saens Sonata (op. 167) is actually pretty manageable, too (at least most of it is). The runs (which fit well in the fingers to start with) are pretty much all slurred, so you don't run into the same kinds of technical problems you do in Weber. You can download it for free from imslp.org and try it out for yourself, since it's in the public domain. That way, if it turns out not to be the right piece, at least you aren't out anything trying it out.
Or perhaps you could have her play a slow movement from one of the standard concertos (e.g., Mozart or Weber #1, for instance).
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-11-25 05:49
weber concertino is standard repetoire and would probably be a good pick.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: hans
Date: 2008-11-25 13:36
I might have something that would work if you'll send me an email.
Hans
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-11-25 19:43
Here are a few resources you might find helpful.
David Hite prepared a study guide in which he rated a number of works according to level of difficulty. The list is somewhat limited in that it primarily includes works that he edited for Southern Music (and he only lists solo works that he had edited). Still, there are a number of good works from the standard repertoire that are generally available at reasonable prices. I was pleased to see it's still available online at:
http://casaybel.com/jdhite/study/clarinet-p.htm
BTW, there is also a similar saxophone study guide.
You can download (in .pdf form) the entire ABRSM syllabus with recommendations for students at all levels at:
http://www.abrsm.org/?page=exams/gradedMusicExams/latestSyllabuses.html
Finally, Michael Moors has a list of links to clarinet repertoire lists here:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4535/material.htm
You might find some useful ideas in his own list of works for students from grades 7 through 12 (pdf file).
If she's not ready for the Weber Concertino, I doubt she'll be able to handle either the Tartini/Jacob or Saint Saens. I suspect a Wanhall (Vanhal) Sonata or the Stamitz Concerto No. 3 will be more her speed.
Googling "clarinet repertoire" without the quotes will get you some other leads.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: kenabbott
Date: 2008-11-26 00:43
Take a look at Schumann's 3 Romances. They were originally written for oboe, but transcriptions are available and they're quite nice. Not particularly challenging, technically, but interesting to interpret.
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Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2008-11-26 02:05
"Victorian Kitchen Garden Suite" by Paul Reade. Not too hard to put together although it has some challenges in it, and is bright and gentle to listen to. Not as "classical" sounding for the listener, it was a TV series theme in England. I would suggest movements 1, 4 and 5 if you want to shorten it somewhat.
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Author: NorbertTheParrot
Date: 2008-11-26 10:22
kenabbott wrote: "Take a look at Schumann's 3 Romances. They were originally written for oboe, but transcriptions are available and they're quite nice.".
The edition I have is for clarinet in A, not Bb. The three pieces are in (concert) A minor, A major, A minor, so the first and last will work on either A or Bb clarinet, but the second is a bit messy on the Bb.
Maybe there exists an edition with the piano part transposed up a semitone?
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Author: hans
Date: 2008-11-26 20:25
Re: "Maybe there exists an edition with the piano part transposed up a semitone?"... if the piano is electronic, can't it be adjusted to accommodate so that the clarinet doesn't have to transpose?
Hans
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-11-27 12:44
For something completely different you might consider "Viktor's Tale". It is a sort of jazzy meets Eastern European sound. Very unique and I think the audience would enjoy it. The runs feel pretty easy under the fingers although it's been a while since I've been in high school.
Eefer guy
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