Buying New Music - Clarinet, Care to comment on my choices???? Options

[Tequila]

Hi,

I'm lucky to have some birthday money to spend and intend to blow it all on some more clarinet music. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
After various threads on suggestions fopr repertoire and doing some listening/research of my own this is what I have come up with....

Some I may work on but already have a copy of:
1.     Camille Saint-Saens: Sonata For Clarinet And Piano Op.167
have a downloaded copy

2.     Carl Maria Von Weber: Clarinet Concertino In E Flat Op.26 (Clarinet/Piano)
have downloaded copy

3. Carl Maria Von Weber: Clarinet Concerto No.1 In F Minor (Clarinet/Piano)
have clarinet part from IMSLP (but no piano part)

Also have the Brahms sonatas on download too.

Some I intend to buy straight away:

4.     Gerald Finzi: Five Bagatelles For Clarinet And Piano

5.     Malcolm Arnold: Sonatina Op.29 For Clarinet And Piano


6.     Howard Blake: Walking In The Air (Clarinet/Tenor Saxophone And Piano)
For a bit of light relief and for a performance opportunity at Christmas.

7.     Serge Rachmaninoff: Vocalise Op. 34 No. 14
An easier one to perform amongst all the hard work

8.     Paul Reade: The Victorian Kitchen Garden Suite

9. Heinrich Baermann: Adagio Op.23 - Clarinet/Piano

10. William Lloyd Webber: Frensham Pond - Aquarelle
Another nice easier one for performance.

11. Robert Scumann: Romances Op.94 (Clarinet/Piano)
Nice for future performances.

And some to consider for the future - or sooner if finances permit (I still have one present to come and it may be money. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ):

12. Francis Poulenc: Clarinet Sonata (2006 Edition)
Considering buying this now as well. I really like the sound of it.

13. Gerald Finzi: Clarinet Concerto Op.31

14.     W.A. Mozart: Clarinet Quintet KV 581 (Clarinet/Piano)

15.     Bernhard Crusell: Clarinet Concerto Op.5 (Clarinet/Piano)
One to consider for the future along with the other Crusell Concertos

17.     Darius Milhaud: Scaramouche (Clarinet and Piano)
Love the sound of this. Maybe one for the future though as would in all likelihood be rather a
challenge to perfect.

18.     Franz Krommer: Concerto For Clarinet In E Flat Op.36
Considering for the future.

19. Robert Schumann: Fantasy Pieces Op.73 (Clarinet/Piano)


So...... What do you think??? Plenty there to keep me busy???? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif)

[eirlys]

I am jealous! Of both music-buying and that you can attempt to play this stuff (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The W.Lloyd Webber 'Frensham Pond' is in the Grade 5 book and there are some other nice pieces in there (Lefevre sonata movement for example) just in case you weren't aware.

I haven't heard the Rachmaninoff Vocalise - is it a stand-alone piece?

(I *heart* anything 'Vocalise' as I wrote one for my GCSE music (2 sopranos, flute & cello) and loved it and got really good marks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )

[Flossie]

What's the purpose of the new music, Dawn? Is it for fun or to learn seriously as part of your technical and musical development? If you're looking at the latter, then I would say that anything I have and can make a fair stab at would be too easy for you (given that you're post-grade 8 in in terms of standard and I've never learnt clarinet properly and am therefore probably only around grade 3 standard).

I have the Finzi bagatelles and the Reade garden suite, and there's only a couple of movements in each that I can't make a reasonable stab at. They are lovely collections, but most of what's in them is probably a bit easy for you unless you're just looking at nice things to play for fun.

I also have the Arnold Sonatina and this is more challenging (I can only do the 2nd movement plus the easy sections of the other two) but should still be a little bit on the easy side for you.

The Rachmaninoff Vocalise will also be rather on the easy side for you (grade 5-ish) and I think it was originally written for violin not clarinet? Not sure what you're teacher's like with things that weren't originally written for the instrument - my flute teacher really doesn't like people doing things that are transcribed from other instruments.

hope you enjoy your music when you get it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[sbhoa]

I have the Finzi bagatelles and the Reade garden suite, and there's only a couple of movements in each that I can't make a reasonable stab at. They are lovely collections, but most of what's in them is probably a bit easy for you unless you're just looking at nice things to play for fun.

I think there's only a couple in those that I could make a reasonable stab at.

Is there really any such thing as too easy to bother with?
If you like them then play them. A more advanced player will find more to put into 'easier' things and probably get more out of them. I think it's good to have a mixture. I think it's also a good plan to have some more accessible (for performer AND audience) pieces in your repertoire if you are thinking of things to use in performance.

[Flossie]

Is there really any such thing as too easy to bother with?
If you like them then play them. A more advanced player will find more to put into 'easier' things and probably get more out of them. I think it's good to have a mixture. I think it's also a good plan to have some more accessible (for performer AND audience) pieces in your repertoire if you are thinking of things to use in performance.

This is why I started by asking what the purpose of the music was. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) The items I mentioned are collections which Dawn would be able to do really nice interpretations of for performances without needing to spend long learning them, and she could get a lot of enjoyment from doing this. But, if Dawn wants something that will really stretch and challenge her from a technical point of view then there are other pieces which would probably serve this purpose better. It really depends what Dawn is after: whether she wants stuff that's well within her comfort zone or whether she wants stuff that will really stretch her - or a mixture of the two (which is what I tend to aim for on flute). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[sbhoa]

Is there really any such thing as too easy to bother with?
If you like them then play them. A more advanced player will find more to put into 'easier' things and probably get more out of them. I think it's good to have a mixture. I think it's also a good plan to have some more accessible (for performer AND audience) pieces in your repertoire if you are thinking of things to use in performance.

This is why I started by asking what the purpose of the music was. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) The items I mentioned are collections which Dawn would be able to do really nice interpretations of for performances without needing to spend long learning them, and she could get a lot of enjoyment from doing this. But, if Dawn wants something that will really stretch and challenge her from a technical point of view then there are other pieces which would probably serve this purpose better. It really depends what Dawn is after: whether she wants stuff that's well within her comfort zone or whether she wants stuff that will really stretch her - or a mixture of the two (which is what I tend to aim for on flute). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Fair enough.
I think it's just that I don't tend to think like that about buying music.
When I browse just for myself I do tend to go for things i can actually manage to play (or think I can).
I usually leave the 'learning' stuff for my teachers to tell me to get.
But then I'm probably just slightly lazy and/or not always too confident over taking on tricky things on my own.

[Tequila]

I have the Finzi bagatelles and the Reade garden suite, and there's only a couple of movements in each that I can't make a reasonable stab at. They are lovely collections, but most of what's in them is probably a bit easy for you unless you're just looking at nice things to play for fun.

I think there's only a couple in those that I could make a reasonable stab at.

Is there really any such thing as too easy to bother with?
If you like them then play them. A more advanced player will find more to put into 'easier' things and probably get more out of them. I think it's good to have a mixture. I think it's also a good plan to have some more accessible (for performer AND audience) pieces in your repertoire if you are thinking of things to use in performance.

thankyou both for your comments.
The purpose is twofold. Some to be able to play/perform with Oldnotes without too much hard slog in either piano or clarinet parts. Some are for more of a challenge. I am currently doing the sonatina with my teacher. This is what musicroom.com says about it.

Arnold's Sonatina was written in January, 1951 and was first performed at the Gallery of the Royal Society of British Artists in London by Colin Davis. The piece is in three highly varied movements, with a brisk opening, softer and slower second movement and a Furioso third. A challenging virtuoso piece!

I think there's a great difference in saying you can make a stab at it and play it properly (and I am in no way saying I can do the latter (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) - YET!)

The Weber concertino is another one I'm working on with my teacher and only have borrowed copies of the music so far.

The Reade Suite has been said on another thread to be around grade 8 when done properly as a suite with a number of easier bits and the Bagatelles are easier apart from the timing , the hardest being the fughetta at around grade 6 but they are fun pieces that sound effective and good for performance opportunities. I want to build up a bit of a library of popular clarinet repertoire and feel that these should be in it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I also want to work up a number of items that should the opportunity arise I would have to pull out for performances. I feel these should be some more showy pieces as well as some technically easier ones that sound nice to allow one to kind of "breathe" between numbers.

As for what my teacher thinks of Vocalise - I don't care because it wouldn't be a lesson piece but for me aside from that. If Emma Johnson can play it..... it's not above me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif)

I think sbhoa is right that what you would get out of a piece at say grade 3 (Bagatelle 3 - carol for example) is very different from what a more advanced player would do with it. For a start there's far more room for expression if you are not struggling technically with it. I know, having played it with Oldnotes, that I wouldn't have been able to make it sound half as nice at grade 3 level.

There are a lot of bad examples of these pieces on YouTube so it just goes to show that a lot depends on the player. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

For me there is a balance between technical showiness and sounding nice. I want a bit of both I guess, sometimes within a piece and sometimes in separate ones.

Thankyou again for your comments. I do value them even if I'm not always in agreement. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Please keep them coming.

P>S> you both replied in the time it took to get mine up.....

So maybe what I say isn't relevant.....???

[oldnotes]

Dawn - having seen the scope of your intended purchases, I think you had better make space on your lawn for me to pitch a tent, as I can see an awful lot of practice/rehearsal! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) . I shall be looking out for the Vaughan Williams folksong arrangements, with a view to playing at one of our concerts later in the year. If you want something specific that you can't locate locally let me know, I intend going into Forsyths in Manchester whilst I am at the Chets week.
I'll email you regarding our next get-together, or email me if you have a specific day in mind before the 14th.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/piano.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Tequila]

Dawn - having seen the scope of your intended purchases, I think you had better make space on your lawn for me to pitch a tent, as I can see an awful lot of practice/rehearsal! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) . I shall be looking out for the Vaughan Williams folksong arrangements, with a view to playing at one of our concerts later in the year. If you want something specific that you can't locate locally let me know, I intend going into Forsyths in Manchester whilst I am at the Chets week.
I'll email you regarding our next get-together, or email me if you have a specific day in mind before the 14th.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/piano.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) My lawn's rather wet at the moment!!!

YOU don't have to play it all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I thought we could do some of it and some of it can be for other occasions. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) / other pianists (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Going away soon as discussed. Will email you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Well haven't bought a lot of new music for many a year so what do you expect???????

I hope to have a long and productive clarinet playing life (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[barry-clari]

Some I may work on but already have a copy of:
1.     Camille Saint-Saens: Sonata For Clarinet And Piano Op.167
have a downloaded copy

2.     Carl Maria Von Weber: Clarinet Concertino In E Flat Op.26 (Clarinet/Piano)
have downloaded copy

3. Carl Maria Von Weber: Clarinet Concerto No.1 In F Minor (Clarinet/Piano)
have clarinet part from IMSLP (but no piano part)

Loads here, I'll deal with all your pieces, bit by bit, starting with these three (using same numbers as you)...

1. This is a lovely piece, and you're more than capable of all of it, indeed, you'll make a good job of sightreading the first three movements. The beginning of the last movement will need working on, but it's well within what you can do now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

2. This was on the AB grade 8 list until recently. I'm very fond of this, and again, you'll be able to play this with practice. Watch the faster bits, make sure they're clean and accurate.

3. Come to York on 14th November, and you'll hear me playing it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) This is my favourite of Weber's two concerti, but it isn't particularly easy, particularly the two outer movements. You'll enjoy working on this though, and it really is a 'must play' for all discerning clarinettists. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[barry-clari]

Some I intend to buy straight away:

4.     Gerald Finzi: Five Bagatelles For Clarinet And Piano

5.     Malcolm Arnold: Sonatina Op.29 For Clarinet And Piano


6.     Howard Blake: Walking In The Air (Clarinet/Tenor Saxophone And Piano)
For a bit of light relief and for a performance opportunity at Christmas.

7.     Serge Rachmaninoff: Vocalise Op. 34 No. 14
An easier one to perform amongst all the hard work

Continuing...

4. This again I feel is an essential bit of repertoire. The Fughetta isn't easy, and goes at quite a speed (I feel this is at the top end of grade 8), but all five pieces are very nice. You'll need a very good pianist.

5. You've already made a good start on this! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

6. Yes, why not - it's a very pretty piece and it's always good to drop into a Christmas recital! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

7. This works very well on clarinet, and it's a good opportunity to play something nice and expressive without having to work too hard on what the notes are. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[barry-clari]

Some I intend to buy straight away:

8.     Paul Reade: The Victorian Kitchen Garden Suite

9. Heinrich Baermann: Adagio Op.23 - Clarinet/Piano

10. William Lloyd Webber: Frensham Pond - Aquarelle
Another nice easier one for performance.

11. Robert Scumann: Romances Op.94 (Clarinet/Piano)
Nice for future performances.

Continuing some more...

8. This is from the Channel 4 series of the same name : and you won't find it difficult. Putting one or more of these in a recital would go down very well, I feel.

9. I'm not a huge fan of this, I think there are nicer pieces out there. Still, it's by no means a bad piece, and it's a piece well within your grasp.

10. Yes, agree, but as eirlys has said, I'd recommend now getting the grade 5 compilation book with this in it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

11. Agree again, and I think you'll enjoy them.

[Tequila]

Thanks for all this Barry (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I am reading it.

Not sure about getting the Grade 5 compilation book. Yes it does have a lot more pieces in it but is also twice the cost of the Frensham and having seen song list there are pieces I either am not familiar with at all or I already have.... Appreciate the input though..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif)

[barry-clari]

12. Francis Poulenc: Clarinet Sonata (2006 Edition)
Considering buying this now as well. I really like the sound of it.

13. Gerald Finzi: Clarinet Concerto Op.31

14.     W.A. Mozart: Clarinet Quintet KV 581 (Clarinet/Piano)

12. A 'must play', even though it's not my favourite. Lots of difficult corners, but given practice, you'll do it justice.

13. If you like the Bagatelles, you'll like this, though it'll need a lot of work on both your part and the accompanists part. If you choose to tackle it, give yourself plenty of time.

14. Not *quite* as good as the sublime Concerto, in my opinion, but still a fine work, and you should enjoy playing it. I think this is well within what you can tackle now Dawn.

[lois]

I've recently had a splurge on music too.

I bought the Poulenc (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) I'm sure it will go OK with practice though.

Also got Bach ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) ) 21 pieces for clarinet, the Schumann Fantasy pieces and a brilliant compilation book. It was only £12 and has stuff by Weber, Brahms, Mendelssohn. It was called Materworks for clarinet or something along those lines.

Can't wait to get stuck in at the weekend (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I also love the Saint-Saens Sonata. Tricky in places but worth it although I haven't looked at it all yet.

Lois