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 i want to play something pretty?
Author: superson 
Date:   2009-11-22 16:56

hi, i'm an intermediate-ish player and i sometimes feel there is nothing good to play, only really boring and annoying tv and film theme tunes. I've always favoured jazz and bought not long ago a good music book, however i'm starting to tire of jazz, and thought i'd give it a break before i do something i regret and get really really bored with it. Anyway reflecting on this i decided i want to play something pretty, can anyone point me in the right direction?

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2009-11-22 17:09

What music do you like?

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: Rusty 
Date:   2009-11-22 17:58

How about buying a MIDI adapter like Notation Musician ($37) and playing along to the 1000s of free Midi sheet music songs available on the Internet. A couple of goodies that I use are, Oldies MIDI Page and Country bluegrass, but there are heaps more of specific classes lke classical, jazz & spiritual.

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: USFBassClarinet 
Date:   2009-11-22 18:35

Personally, I have found a few different "contest albums" or some such that have a wide variety of medium to difficult pieces in them. Just by keeping an eye on ebay for used copies of them I can usually get one for under 5 bucks. Right around 10 with shipping usually. One of my current favorites has been from the Alea Publication (for bass clarinet though, but the piece itself exists for about every instrument now) is the Vocalise. Maybe it will make it onto a program soon.

If there is ever something you hear from another instrument that you like, you could always take it and play it too. Most people now don't seem to mind pieces played on other instruments. I do still run into the occasional Bach people who say the cellos suites are for cello and bass clarinet has no right to play them.

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: Don Berger 
Date:   2009-11-22 20:43

I keep busy "working-up" tunes that I like, to play for my retirement home audiences. The many "hit" tunes from BDY musicals and old ballads [love songs and nostalagics from early 1900s] "sell" better than even well-known operatics, fine classics etc, likely due to familiarity. PM thots, Don

Thanx, Mark, Don

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2009-11-22 22:28

Often the simplest tunes are the prettiest. I've read that Ralph McLane used the Brahms Lullaby to test everything from a reed to a Moennig tweak.

Stephen Foster wrote wonderful tunes. I often play Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair when I need to brighten my mood. Also Oh Susanna, Camptown Races, Gentle Annie and Beautiful Dreamer. If you want a giggle (even without the words), try If You've Only Got A Moustache. Most of these are on a wonderful record by Jan de Gaetani and Leslie Guinn, http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Stephen-Foster-Vol-1-2/dp/B000005IYE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1258932002&sr=8-1

Schubert and Schumann were all-time-great tune writers. Read through their books of songs. Also Gershwin, Cole Porter, Gilbert & Sullivan and anything John McCormack sang http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Irish-Rose-John-McCormack/dp/B000003G6Z/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1258932378&sr=1-1.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: FDF 
Date:   2009-11-23 01:25

With the Christmas season upon us, you might want to consider some Christmas songs, such as Away in a Manger, We Three Kings..., and, my personal fav Silent Night.

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: DougR 
Date:   2009-11-23 03:02

I was going to recommend Milhaud's Caprice for clarinet & piano, because I think it's really lovely, and I always feel so French when I play it (but in a GOOD way...). Went over to Amazon to see if there were listening samples of it (I was introduced to it by Paul Meyer on his album "French Clarinet Art") and his album is listed, and there's a short listening sample here:

http://www.amazon.com/French-Clarinet-Art-Paul-Meyer/dp/B0000034YI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1258948340&sr=1-2

But then, I don't know what YOU mean by "pretty," so one thing I can suggest is, take all the suggestions you get here and see if there's either a performance on YouTube or listening samples on Amazon.

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2009-11-23 15:01

Baermann/Wagner Adagio for clarinet - Piano or small string ens arrangement.

Schumann Fantasy Pieces - clar. and piano

Rick Sowash Daweswood Suite - clarinet, piano, violin and cello

..............Not sure how difficult it is (never played it) but is sounds pretty.



....................Paul Aviles

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: djphay 
Date:   2009-11-23 22:48

I rellay like Frensham Pond by William Lloyd Webber. Very pretty. It's on the ABRSM Grade 5 syllabus so that maybe that should be alright?

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: knotty 
Date:   2009-11-23 22:58

Ken Shaw said:
"Stephen Foster wrote wonderful tunes. I often play Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair when I need to brighten my mood. Also Oh Susanna, Camptown Races, Gentle Annie and Beautiful Dreamer."

I love the tunes of Stephen Foster too, have few song books of his. I'm a nostalgic sort and it brings nice memories to mind of a bygone day.

knotty

~ Musical Progress: None ~

Post Edited (2009-11-23 23:19)

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: haberc 
Date:   2009-11-24 00:12

Years ago I transcribed Schumann's Scenes from Childhood and Album for the Young for single note instruments. This is "pretty" music and easy to play - at first glance. If you want some pretty music, easy to play - and at the same time a real challenge because 'there is no place to hide', I can strongly recommend this music. You can purchase the piano music and play the melody line - figure out the range for your instruments. or email me if you want my version. [to the bboard adminsrators - I don't know if this is allowable or not - I have this music available to purchase. So I'm guessing you don't allow it] I'll just post this and see what you decide.

haberc@earthlink.net

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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: Bob Barnhart 2017
Date:   2009-11-24 02:11

Recently I ran across a beautiful work "Pagina d'Album" by Michele Mangani. There are two videos of this work on the net:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFvtZjxEgdc - Wenzel Fuchs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgaGDPa73nA - Fabio de Casola

Unfortunately, it appears there is only an Italian publisher (Edizioni Eufonia) , but perhaps the music for clarinet/piano might be available electronically as well. See:

http://www.edizionieufonia.it/Nuovo%20sito/Musica%20da%20camera/Clarinetto%20%20Musica%20da%20camera.htm

Otherwise, I would second the suggestion of the Baermann Adagio or perhaps the Rachmaninoff Vocalise (which is available for clarinet/piano).

Good luck!

Bob Barnhart



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 Re: i want to play something pretty?
Author: BobD 
Date:   2009-11-24 10:47

"Walking In The Air" as done by Emma Johnson ......

Bob Draznik

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