The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Andrew Firth's recordings

Author: Andy Firth
Date: 2013-01-04 21:08

Hi fellow clarinetists,

A quick update after such a long time not checking in. Sorry about that. I see that a few people have asked about me and a student alerted me to this. I felt it was rude not to respond.

Yes I'm still breathing and doing 6KM of swimming a week to stay in shape and stay that way. Re: the question about my high note fingering on Golden Wedding-I have no idea really but it's something like 1st finger left hand, 3rd finger RH with Eb vent and register key on and oh, a quick prayer backstage before hand always helps too.All the best and good luck with the high "E" fingering. I actually go up to the "G" above but it's a controlled dog whistle really. 8)

My recordings used to be hard to get because the Australian record companies are either crap or looking for "new ways to approach the instruments". They love signing up "cutting edge and creative artists". I play standards and a few originals here and there and usually you can hear and recognise my melodies so I don't fit the bill for these unfortunately. That's OK though because they give shoking percentages and we don't really need them these days anyway. So the good news is that my deleted CD recordings are all available again for download now on bandcamp.com. There's 16 up now. For how long I don't know. I'm writing tons of classical and chamber works for clarinet, big band, strings, solo piano etc now. Over 500 works to date. They are being published by reedmusic.com in Melbourne. There's a couple of albums up on bandcamp of my quartets and trios/duo for "classical" clarinet if you're interested in hearing my alter ego play. You can listen, download or buy the entire album. I don't sell physical product any more. EMI have warned me via youtube not to use "Sabine Meyer's recording in my performance of the KV622 as they own it" ...that's how crazy the world is becoming! As if I'd insult Sabine by doing this. It's all me folks, every badly played note and phrase. I would never do this to such an amazing artist as Sabine. They obviously didn't actually hear me play it! 8)

There's also a heap of videos on my Youtube site too. andyfirthjazzmusic channel. If you want to join my facebook site (there's two-the Andy Firth-Australian clarinet & saxophone virtuoso and my personal site Andy Firth Music) I'd love to welcome you on board. I post clips, CD tracks, snippets of ideas I'm working and have the occasional dummy spit about the way music is heading/greedy publishers etc.

I'm still gigging all over Australia but rarely do overseas clarinet festivals now because they don't pay me and it's expensive from Australia just to turn up and do a freebie and have a bit of an ego trip working with some great players! Besides, I've played with Buddy DeFranco twice now (once at his Festival in Montana and at my Carnegie Hall debut in 2008) so after that, what's left...?

If you ever come to one of my gigs, please look me up afterwards and say "G'day!".

All the very best to you all for 2013!

Cheers!

Andy Firth (Newcastle, NSW Australia)

PS. Yes I know Eddie Daniels, Ron Odrich and of course my clarinet mentor, Buddy DeFranco. I have HUGE respect for them all and owe a lot of my playing abilities to them. I've been listening to all three gents and will keep doing so 'till my dying day.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics