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 Gordon Jacob Question
Author: Katrina 
Date:   2009-11-24 16:20

One of my students is learning the Scherzo and Trio from the Gordon Jacob Five Pieces for solo clarinet.

I'm stymied by a possible error in the text however. At the top of the second page of that movement (Oxford edition) there is a measure of chromatically ascending minor thirds, continued from the end of the first page. The last note (G) in the measure is written without any accidentals, and if you play it as a G# (previous accidental in the measure) it wrecks the minor third aspect of the run.

Is this an error? Or did Jacob really do that?

And no, I've never learned the pieces myself or heard a recording. Shame, shame...



Post Edited (2009-11-24 16:21)

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 Re: Gordon Jacob Question
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2009-11-24 16:38

It is written as a G# because it is carried over in the measure on the same line but it is a mistake, they left off the natural sign. Write in a natural, it sounds better and makes harmonic sense. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com

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 Re: Gordon Jacob Question
Author: GBK 
Date:   2009-11-24 16:41

It's a good question and seemingly a case could be made for either a G# or G natural.

I certainly understand your seeing and hearing the ascending minor thirds, and the scalewise chromatically rising lower notes of the pattern, however I've always played it as a G# (previous accidental in the measure)

My reasoning is that I think it is not a misprint and Jacob was using the G# (previous accidental in the measure) to set up the next figure in measure two on that page.

In the end, I'd probably go with what your ear tells you to do. [wink]

...GBK

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 Re: Gordon Jacob Question
Author: Katrina 
Date:   2009-11-24 16:57

GBK, I knew you'd have an astute answer! :)

My ear has been hearing the minor thirds, but I hadn't made the link between the Bb/G# and the next measure! :)

I think I'll have the student play it "as written" in that case. You never know about those contest judges, eh? ;)

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 Re: Gordon Jacob Question
Author: GBK 
Date:   2009-11-24 17:13

My only problem with that entire movement is that Jacob took a trite idea and tried to make too much out of it.

After a while it gets monotonous. Almost like "we get the idea, let's move on"

In addition the movement has a number of figures that are just plain clumsy to play.

When I've performed the piece in public (and as I will this March in a small afternoon library recital) , I do either just 1,2 and 3 or 1,4, and 3.

...GBK

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 Re: Gordon Jacob Question
Author: cigleris 
Date:   2009-11-24 18:25

I've performed these pieces extensively over the last year. I include them in our trio recitals so the oboeist and bassoonist get a slight break.

I believe it to be a printing error and missing the natural sign, as I also believe it to be rising minor thirds. I'm not sure I agree with you GBK as the next two sets of semiquavers (16ths) are also minor thirds. I believe Gordan was continuing that particular harmonic progression.

I'm in touch with Gordan's second wife who might be have access to the autograph. Would be interesting to find out.

Peter Cigleris

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 Re: Gordon Jacob Question
Author: Katrina 
Date:   2009-11-24 19:07

Let us know if you find out, please, Peter!

And Glenn, for this student it was the logical one to choose, because she really wanted to play something unaccompanied for solo contest (last year was a headache and I had to accompany her at the last minute!) and this is the flashiest and longest of them. I had shown her the Osborne too but IMO it's not the best showcase of her abilities...

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 Re: Gordon Jacob Question
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2009-11-25 00:27

99.9 % of the time, common sense makes sense. I believe it's a G Natural as I stated above. I think GBK is wrong. Sometimes even the manuscript is wrong because the composer simply forgot to make the correction, it's human, except maybe for Mozart. It's an obvious place for him to forget to write in the natural sign or for the publisher to leave it out. I've always told my students that if is seems illogical it most likely is, I really believe this is one of those 99.9% cases. I suppose I could be wrong but I don't think so. ESP

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