A Very Clarinet Thanksgiving
Today is the day we should all take a moment to reflect on the things that make us grateful. After careful consideration, here are a few things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving:
- That Nielsen only wrote one clarinet concerto
- That the Mendelssohn “Scherzo” is only 92 (…or sometimes 88…)
- I’m not playing Daphnis & Chloe anytime soon
- I don’t play contrabass clarinet
- Or alto clarinet
- I don’t have to read alto clef (save that nonsense for the violas and bassoons!)
- I don’t have to worry about double reeds
- Or make my own reeds, for that matter
- I don’t have to memorize music (poor pianists!)
- Clarinets are not as heavy and unwieldy as tubas
- It’s a common enough instrument that they make clarinet Christmas tree ornaments
- Most of all, I’m thankful I don’t have to give a recital post-Thanksgiving dinner. That would make an interesting competition, though…
In all seriousness, I am very thankful for the many opportunities I’ve had because of music. I’m thankful for the friends I’ve met around the world doing what I love. I’m thankful there’s a community of nerdy clarinetists out there when normal (read, non-clarinetists) think I’m crazy. I’m thankful for each performance and recital. I’m thankful that I can read music and have an entire language at my disposal. I’m thankful that I play the best instrument – we all know it’s true!
Happy Thanksgiving!