Posts Tagged ‘ clarinet notes ’

Clarinet Talk: Video- Trying Buffet Festival clarinets, the saga continues.

Trying Buffet Festival Clarinet

After trying these in our hall, the Ohio Theater with its dry acoustics, I ended up choosing the second clarinet in this video. It’s around 3:30, half way through. The first one, which I show in the end with the beautiful wood, ended up feeling too “tight” in resistance, ultra focused, but unable to expand. The second has more resonance and ring, and has flexibility. This past week was a whirwind of intense rehearsals and difficult music. I had little time to devote to testing the Festivals one by one. Since I had picked the…

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Clarinet Tone Talk: Sound test with piano in two halls for recording in May

first community church clarinet acoustic test

I like both of these acoustics, though I prefer one to the other for several reasons. But I’ll let you listen and comment before I divulge my choice. We played the excerpts in different order at each church. I cut and pasted the clips roughly to match these two samples . Ignore the bloops, please. Also, the clarinet and mouthpiece (wood) had not yet warmed up and my pitch is a bit under. Please ignore that if you can. And of course, the pianos are not in tune. We literally walked in, set up the…

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Clarinet Talk: Podcast of Clarinetist Michael Norsworthy on his legendary teacher Kal Opperman

Podcast of Clarinetist Michael Norsworthy talking about his beginnings as a clarinetist and his teachers, including Richard Stoltzman and the legendary Kalman Opperman. Opperman’s unique and intense method of teaching clarinet made for some good storys. Enjoy! Mr. Opperman passed away in June 2010, aged 91. He lived his life dedicated to playing and teaching the clarinet in the deepest manner possible. The excerpt of Michael’s playing at the beginning and end of the podcast is from Pierre Boulez Dialogue de l’Ombre Double. MICHAEL NORSWORTHY, clarinet EXTENDED BIOGRAPHY 2010 – 2011 MICHAEL NORSWORTHY’s virtuosity and…

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Clarinet Talk: Four Tones – Same Player and Equipment

The following audio clip is Four Tones, Same Player and Equipment- [Audio clip: view full post to listen] I took John Peacock up on his challenge awhile back, to demonstrate several different voicings and how they affect tone. This clip begins with my saying and playing #2, #3, #4, and then #1, because #1 is my own natural voicing and since it is more familiar and comfortable, it would have an unfair advantage. The point is not that I sound better or worse on each sample, but how different the sound is from the others.…

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Clarinet Talk- Video: Tchaikovsky Nutcracker, Excerpts, Sitting in live with first clarinet

After 4 performances in two days, I’m cracked, nuts, that is. Here’s the best Monday morning clarinet talk I can offer. Tchaikovsky Nutcracker, solos from clarinet part, David Itkin 1996 reduction, Columbus Symphony, Ohio, BalletMet Columbus production, Dec 2010. Waltz of Flowers, Sugar Plum Fairy, tricky lick from ending coda, Overture, Arabian Dance (Le Cafe), transition from “bedtime” to midnight magic, (with water in A key) when mice take over. (girl screams), short clip of clarinet playing flute part in “Mirlitons” (David Itkin arrangement, 1996)

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“Oncoming Traffic” = New works for clarinet

“Oncoming Traffic” = New works for clarinet with ensemble featuring Robert Spring, clarinet – Summit – Audiophile Audition. It’s refreshing to see a collection of truly new works for clarinet. Robert Spring has the clarinet pulse of new music. The works he has inspired for the instrument are awesome. This collection promises to be a treat. I’ve ordered it. I’ll let you know. If you want to order it for yourself, here is the link. This is easily one of the most exciting clarinet recordings I have heard in awhile. There are so many reasons…

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Artheme Swallows his Clarinet: funny short film from 1912

Thanks to Betsy Sturdevant, author of Bassoon Blog for this find!

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Igor Stravinsky L’Histoire du Soldat (trio version); Preconcert Lecture Demonstration and Full Performance.

4 Videos- Stravinsky L’Histoire du Soldat, the Soldier’s Tale, a Faustian fable from Russian lore, translated into vivid music oozing with character by the great 20th century master. Humor, passion, dance, sexy tangos, doubt, trickery and penance come through the music. (Apologies for the small visual window. When I figure out how to fix it I’ll repost them. For now you can at least hear the preconcert talk and the performance.) Videos 1 and 2 are the preconcert demonstration and talk, totaling 17 minutes. Videos 3 and 4 are the performance, Friday, June 18, 2010.…

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YouTube Pre-concert Talk on Debussy Rhapsodie

YouTube Pre-concert Talk on Debussy Rhapsodie

Here is my live pre-concert analysis of the Debussy Rhapsodie on YouTube. I got lots of positive feedback from the audience after the concert. I kept the program short, to allow time to speak. I spoke about 10 minutes before the Debussy and 15 minutes before the Stravinsky L’Histoire du Soldat. (which I will post in a few days) In this personal analysis of the Debussy Premiere Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano, I show how the composer builds the entire piece on the first three note “fragment” of a theme. Of the 6 or 7…

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Clarinetist Evan Christopher makes the old sound new

The Minnesota Orchestra, a classical orchestra, commissions not one, but two “jazz” concertos in as many years. I like that. Composer and performer Evan Christopher’s music is steeped in the history and vocabulary of Bechet, Barney Bigard and other early masters, but it’s also very modern. You’re hearing something old, yet it feels fresh and contemporary. Add Christopher’s compelling stage presence and gorgeous sound — if the clarinet can be this beautiful and expressive, why don’t more people play it? — and this promises to be an electrifying evening. To read more, go to: MinnPost…

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I highly recommend…

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