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Clarinet Repertoire Requiring Costumes
Did you know that some pieces of clarinet repertoire instruct the performer to wear specific clothing or costumes? These pieces can include costume, staging, lighting, and other theatrical elements, taking your typical clarinet performance and turning it into a real spectacle! Here are a few pieces of clarinet repertoire requiring costumes: Karlheinz Stockhausen – Harlekin for solo clarinetist/dancer – In performances of this work, clarinetists dance on stage, embodying the character of the Harlequin, a comedic figure. (Fun fact: several of Stockhausen’s compositions feature theatrical and contemporary techniques for clarinet. Since there are several clarinet features in his operas and larger ensemble works, some have been adapted for solo or…
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What do tuning and mind control have in common?
No, this isn’t the opening to some bad music theory joke (but it could be if you leave a good punchline in the comments!). Most musicians are probably familiar with “concert pitch,” A=440Hz. This is the tuning standard in many parts of the world (although some countries and ensembles do tune higher). But have you ever wondered how we settled on A=440 as the standard tuning pitch? I did, and my research led me to rumors of Illuminati involvement, mind control, and the vibration of the universe. Pretty deep stuff for something we bemoan at every rehearsal. Before we continue, I want to make it clear that I do not…
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Jenny Clarinet Halloween🎃
I’ve gathered all my Halloween articles in one post to help you celebrate my favorite holiday all year long! Clarinet History & Mystery Cursed Clarinet Repertoire Creepy Clarinet Crafts Taphophilia (Final Resting Places) Macabre & Mysterious Music History Spine-tingling Lists Digital Downloads
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Repertoire Recommendations: Autumn-Inspired ?
Happy autumn to all my northern hemisphere friends! You all know this is my favorite season, and if you’re looking for new repertoire recommendations (#reprecs) I’ve got you covered! Here are my favorite autumn-themed clarinet pieces: Thea Musgrave – Autumn Sonata – Concerto for Bass Clarinet and Orchestra Itaru Sakai – Journey of Leaf for clarinet octet Itamar Danziger – Autumn for clarinet and piano (from The Seasons’ Suite) Ayser Vancin – Autumn Song for clarinet and piano Bernice Petkere – Lullaby Of The Leaves for solo clarinet Percy Hall – Falling Leaves for clarinet trio Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Autumn Song, arranged by Tōru Takemitsu Joseph Pappas Pappas – Autumn…
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Tips to create a well-rounded recital program
Call me nerdy (I think that ship has long sailed, seeing as I run a clarinet blog!), but I genuinely enjoy planning recital programs. I love coming up with themes, brainstorming repertoire, and thinking of ways to increase audience and community engagement for my performances. Here are a few tips to help you create a well-rounded recital program for your next concert: Begin with a good warm-up piece. Save all the pyrotechnics for later in the program – your first piece is a great opportunity to ease into your program, so select a piece that’s not too technically demanding so you can begin with confidence. Choose diverse repertoire. Make sure…
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Friday Favorites: Clarinet Étude Books
Happy Friday! The clarinet is lucky to have such an abundance of wonderful music, including countless étude books. Many of these études are so great that they’re even performed as concert pieces and in recitals! Here are a few of my favorite clarinet étude books (listed in no particular order): Cyrille Rose 32 Études Béla Kovács Hommages Ernesto Cavallini 30 Caprices Johann Müller 22 Clarinet Études Paul JeanJean 18 Études for the Clarinet Victor Polatschek 12 Études for Clarinet Eugène Bozza 11 Études Sur Des Modes Karnatiques Eugène Bozza14 Études de Mecanisme Marco Bordogni Melodious Études for Clarinet Jacques Lancelot 25 Études Faciles et Progressives Aurelio Magnani 10 Études-Caprices de Grande Difficult What are your favorite clarinet études? Leave a comment…
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Friday Favorites: Clarinet Method Books
Happy Friday! You can’t beat method books. These all-in-one resources usually contain most everything you need, from technical exercises, lyrical studies, and other fundamental resources. There are a plethora of clarinet methods out there, and here are a few of my favorite. (Note that some of these might currently be out of print.) Hyacinthe Klosé Celebrated Method for the Clarinet Leon Russianoff Clarinet Method Rubank Method for Clarinet (I use this with many of my students!) Henry Lazarus Method for Clarinet Carl Baermann Complete Method for Clarinet Gustave Langenus Complete Method for the Clarinet Alamiro Giampieri Progressive Method for Clarinet Benny Goodman Clarinet Method David Hite Melodious and Progressive Studies for Clarinet Frederick Thurston The Clarinet: A Comprehensive Method What method…
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Friday Favorites: Auxiliary Clarinet Studies
Happy Friday! We are #blessed to have so many wonderful members of the clarinet family. If you play an auxiliary clarinet (or are thinking of picking one up), here are some of my favorite studies and resources to help you: Julius Weissenborn Advanced Studies for Alto and Bass Clarinets Michael Drapkin Symphonic Repertoire for the Bass Clarinet Alamiro Giampieri Difficult Passages and Solos for Clarinet and Bass Clarinet Jacques Merrer Orchestral Excerpts for Sopranino/Piccolo E-Flat Clarinet and D Clarinet Practical Hints on Playing the Alto Clarinet (Alfred Publishing) Peter Hadcock Orchestral Studies for the Eb Clarinet Sauro Berti 20 Studies for Bass Clarinet and Basset Horn Happy practicing!
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Friday Favorites: Clarinet History Books
Happy Friday! I love learning about the clarinet’s history, and there are so many wonderful resources available. Here are a few of my favorite clarinet history books (please note that some of these may be out of print or difficult to find. I recommend checking out nearby university libraries or using interlibrary loans): Clarinet Virtuosi of the Past by Pamela Weston – Perhaps my favorite book on this list, this book examines famous clarinetists of the past, including Anton Stadler, Heinrich Baermann, and Richard Mühlfeld. Pamela Weston is a brilliant writer and scholar, and she wrote other clarinet books, including The Clarinet Teacher’s Companion, More Clarinet Virtuosi of the Past, Clarinet Virtuosi of Today, and Yesterday’s Clarinettists:…
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Friday Favorites: Technical Exercises
Happy Friday! You all know I love my scales, but I also enjoy a good technique-building book! Here are some of my favorite books and exercises to help polish and develop better clarinet technique: 11 Technical Exercises Paul Jeanjean Vade-Mecum du Clarinettiste Fritz Kroepsch 416 Progressive Daily Studies for the Clarinet Périer 331 Exercises Journaliers de Mechanisme Klosé Daily Exercises and Technical Studies from the Celebrated Method for the Clarinet Cyrille Rose 40 Studies Ernesto Cavallini 30 Caprices Kalmen Opperman Velocity Studies Frederick Thurston Passage Studies Giovanni Battista Gambaro 22 Progressive Studies Gaetano Labanchi 35 Studies for Clarinet Jean Xavier Lefevre 60 Exercises for Clarinet Happy practicing, and I hope you have a great weekend!