 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: LaurieBell
Date: 2015-01-04 00:54
I heard a beautiful and simple piece last year but hadn't built up my breath control enough to do it justice. I tried it again this morning with my husband playing piano and was delighted that I made it all the way through with a little breath to spare.
The piece is Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Part. If you ever need a long tone challenge this is the piece.
The piece is written in 6/4 time with a quarter note marked at 80. The piano plays quarter note arpeggios while the clarinet plays long, tied whole notes. The beauty of the piece shines when harmonies come together.
There's a pretty recording on Youtube with a violin taking the lead:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtFPdBUl7XQ
And here's one with a clarinetist, although it sounds a bit slower than 80, but man-o-man does he have some breath control. Pretty sound too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QX3wTb12F0
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2015-01-04 03:24
Simple is harder to do, is it not? It would be cool if the clarinetist was also making the bird sounds at the same time he was playing.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ned
Date: 2015-01-04 07:26
I watched this with the clarinet and then watched another version with violin (Spiegel lm Spiegel).
I am compelled to say that I prefer the violin version, principally because of the vibrato used. The warbling bird sound effects used in the clarinet version were probably superfluous as well being irritating.
p.s.
Sean Perrin's YouTube comment would seem somewhat subjective, I daresay... ''Clarinet, by its nature, does not welcome vibrato technique.''
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: LaurieBell
Date: 2015-01-04 07:36
I listened to the violin version first and really liked it. I admit that after that, I didn't have the patience to listen to the clarinet version all the way through so I missed the bird warbling sound. But I've heard enough new age music and have to say I really sort of hate that sound affect. I'd rather the music relax me enough that my imagination kick in and fill in the nature sounds.
For me, the challenge is not just the long tones and the breath control, but also not taking big noticeable gasps of air. I find that if I keep relaxed and don't think about it much, the breathing becomes almost meditative with long breaths out and three beats to breath in deeply before doing it all over again.
Another musician commented that the piece was a bit boring and put him to sleep (he was somewhat kidding), but I think that's the meditative quality of the piece. Anyway, it's made practicing long tones more fun.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-01-04 07:50
Hmmmm..........
A lot of pent up hatred of Respighi's Pines of Rome (and the bird call effects)????
...........Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ned
Date: 2015-01-04 09:44
''A lot of pent up hatred of Respighi's Pines of Rome (and the bird call effects)????''
Hatred may be going a bit far...that's not my feeling about the piece.
The music is fine, both clarinet and violin versions, in fact. I just prefer the violin version for the reasons stated. That's just me of course, others can speak for themselves.
As for being a ''long tone challenge'' that's all good. I shall play the video soon and see how far I can go.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-01-04 11:19
I recently bought this piece and look forward to having time to work with it, both for conditioning and musical reasons. I also have an mp3 of the accompaniment, so that's nice as I don't have a pianist I'm working with at the moment.
Although the clarinet playing is very good in the youtube video, the bird effects ruin it for me.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
