Hi hi,

I'm trying to wrap my head, tounge and fingers around this piece and it isn't too bad technically but i have a few questions regarding random bits that i'm stuck on!

Firstly, in the first phrase of the cadenza, what have you found is the best fingering for the fiddly bit in the middle (the 4th and 5th set of demi-semiquavers). I don't have one of those handy left hand Eb keys so there's gotta be a slide somewhere and i wonder what you guys though would be the best one, i'm finding them both pretty tricky, unless there's another fingering that might be a possibility.

Also, later on in the cadenza after the chromatic passage from the top D can anyone suggest anything stylistically for the broken chord part because i'm finding it hard to put anything into it musically and get around the fiddly bit in the middle which is all around the break. Ideally, in my mind i'd like to be playing that bit much faster than i'm able to (yes, i do need to practice it more and get better at it but i still think that i wouldn't be able to get it to the speed that my interpretation wants).

Finally, the sextuplets (is that how you spell that?!) before the cadenza, can anyone help me with the chord names of each of those arpeggios those because i think going about learning it from a note point of view is going to be a bit of a lost cause.

Thanks in advance for any help.

It's a bit of a horror, that one, isn't it? I leave a tiny, tiny gap between the Eb and the B natural, and do a right hand B there. It's, I find, the best of a bad bunch of options!



I go as quick as I feel safe doing (which is pretty rapid), bringing out the first note of each group, and following the dynamics pretty rigidly, the molto rall I then do very molto, and I really give the top Ab a bash!



Although some can be named (F minor and Ab major feature, amongst others), for the more obscure ones, I'd be inclined to do them slowly to start, and speed them up gradually - I found that a lot easier than analysing each chord.

All the best, it's such a great piece, isn't it?

Yes, it's fantastic! I love it... i know it's probably a little too hard for me but i really do love it so it's worth the effort! Thanks for your reply, i'll go and have a look at it in conjunction to the music now!

No problem - give me a shout if you run into any more difficulties, it's a piece I've played quite a reasonable amount.

I've had endless 'fun' with this piece, not least as there are so many interpretaions all through it. Every performance you hear is so personal (true of anything at this level, but this especially)

I tend to do the same in the cadenza for the Eb (RH B) as you really need LH C - Eb after it. As for the end, it is pretty free time so really linger on the first long note of each group. The key is in making the soft dynamics sound free and effortless, which is just practise!

Before the cadenza, take the slow part very slow and expressive so you are not too quick by the tuplets. The trick Eb - basically Bb and lift fingers 2 and 3 is very useful, and you don't notice the poor tuning at that speed.

Have fun with this one!

yes, gotta love cheat Eb. I've looked over the bit before the cadenza today, i don't think it's too hard really but i'm going to listen to the recordings a bit more so i know what notes to expect if you know what i mean!

After reading this I'm intrigued by this piece. I've heard of it before (and heard it played once I think) but have never looked at it. I was just thinking how I needed to get back into regular clarinet practice myself as I can feel my playing declining through neglect as I focus on teaching, so I might get a copy to have a look at!

It's a very good piece, I think it sounds very impressive. It was on the old (pre-2008) clarinet grade 8 syllabus (minus cadenza), but I think it's on the hard side for grade 8. I think you'd enjoy it if you're looking for a bit of a challenge Clare.

Great. I think it was on the syllabus when I took my Grade 8 but my teacher didn't give me much choice in pieces!

i believe it's migrated to the dipABRSM syllabus now.

I just looked at the new grade 8 syllabus and i see they've changed the list c pieces quite dramatically which is good because in my opinion the old ones were horrid. They've cut down a lot on the number of pieces available haven't they?

Have a listen to Michael Collins' recording of it - I think he does it really well, especially that cadenza. It's on a CD I have called "Virtuosi - Michael Collins" with a good selection of other great music (Brahms, Weber, Poulenc...)
Great piece!

Michael Collins can pretty much play anything with effortless ease. He's a fine musician.

hothedgehog : yes, it is now on the DipABRSM syllabus, and in my opinion that's the best place for it.

and has inspired me many many times

Michael Collins that is not the Messager which whilst a fun piece isn't my favorite of that period.

It certainly makes a great end to the Recital. My son played it for DipABRSM in July. It was originally written as a diploma piece for the Paris Conservatoire, which makes it a good choice.

There are a number of these sorts of pieces around, that were originally designed as diploma/prize works for the Paris Conservatoire, and many are well worth searching out.

Probably my favorite is the Milhaud Duo Concertante - which appears to have migrated from the G8 list when I did it many many years ago to the LRSM which to me seems to be making it look more difficult than it really is.

That and the Burgmuller duo deserve far more playing than they get. (well in my opinion anyway)

I played it for my Grade VIII too.

It seems to vacillate between Grade VIII and LRSM, and occasionally appears on both lists simultaneously. It's one of the more challenging Grade VIII pieces; it wasn't many weeks before my exam when I could nail the top As successfully each time.

Wow, i'm quite surprised they've taken the Milhaud off grade 8. It's not too hard, there isn't really anything that's actually that difficult about it once you've learnt it all the notes. I mean there's no awkward fingerings and such (although saying that i haven't actually properly learnt it, i probably should but i think i don't actually have a copy *will have to raid music collection to check*)