Solo Clarinet works?

[Octo_Russ]

The title purposely has a double meaning!.

I love the sound of the Clarinet, can anyone advise me on some solo works for this instrument?, nothing too weird or dissonant, music that's quite accessible, but also must be available on compact disc.

Or does the lack of solo Clarinet pieces mean it just doesn't work?, i have a hard time with solo Violin, and i don't like Paganini's 24 Caprices, and i'm trying to get into Ysaye's 6 Sonatas, would the Clarinet be in a similar position to my ears?.

[karlhenning]

How can a single-line instrument, unaccompanied, be too dissonant? ; )

I shan't suggest my own works, since they are not commercially available.  But there is more than one recording out there of the Stravinsky Three Pieces for clarinet solo.  And I should be surprised if there are no recordings of a wonderful Rozsa Sonatina for clarinet solo.

[karlhenning]

(I do mention my own pieces for clarinet solo, as testimony that I for one believe it works very nicely.)

[Scarpia]

I'm guessing 2 would be 1 too many?  Otherwise there is this interesting relase.

http://www.amazon.com/Clarinet-Counterpoints-Zelimsky/dp/B000001RU8/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1278014035&sr=1-30

[karlhenning]

That's the thin edge of a wedge, you know, Scarps! ; )

[karlhenning]

Oh, the fact that Joe is posting reminds me of GRA ; )

[karlhenning]

He's playing in a terribly resonant space, but here you are:

http://www.youtube.com/v/gb8Qgggtqdo

[bhodges]

I have this recording, with Chailly and the London Sinfonietta, which I believe has been re-released.  The whole album is marvelous, including the Three Pieces. 

--Bruce

[jochanaan]

There's also the third movement of Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, called "The Abyss of Birds."  Its implied harmonies are challenging but not too radical if you're accustomed to late Romantic music.

[listener]

rather surprising that neither Hindemith or one of those French composers who wrote morceau de concours wrote for solo clarinet, but I did find one piece that I don't have:
Adler, Samuel : Canto XIV (Klezmer Fantasy) for solo clarinet: Performer: Franklin
Cohen (Clarinet); Running Time: 11 min. 17 sec.

[karlhenning]

rather surprising that neither Hindemith or one of those French composers who wrote morceau de concours wrote for solo clarinet, but I did find one piece that I don't have:
Adler, Samuel : Canto XIV (Klezmer Fantasy) for solo clarinet: Performer: Franklin
Cohen (Clarinet); Running Time: 11 min. 17 sec.

Did Hindemith write for unaccpmpanied clarinet, really? I've missed that!  Details, please.

Of course, one of Berio's Sequenze must be unaccompanied clarinet, I should think.

[listener]

Did Hindemith write for unaccpmpanied clarinet, really? I've missed that!  Details, please.

No piece by Hindemith, I found the Adler instead.

Hindemith's sonata for clarinet and piano is an interesting challenge for the player as it calls for a change of clarinet (from B^b to E^b?) midway, rather like a violin sonata requiring a change to viola for a movement.

[karlhenning]

No piece by Hindemith, I found the Adler instead.

Hindemith's sonata for clarinet and piano is an interesting challenge for the player as it calls for a change of clarinet (from B^b to E^b?) midway, rather like a violin sonata requiring a change to viola for a movement.

Oh, not the Hindemith Sonata which I've played, it's B-flat straight through.  Great piece, and I should get Eric to play it with me . . . .

[listener]

Oh, not the Hindemith Sonata which I've played, it's B-flat straight through.  Great piece, and I should get Eric to play it with me . . . .

I'll always take a performer's word for something like this.  You are right, I'm wrong, it's the clarinet quintet (op. 30, 1938  1923) that requires the change of instrument for the third movement.   (info from the notes to the wergo recording)   There's a clarinet quartet from 1938 that I was double-checking

[Josquin des Prez]

http://www.youtube.com/v/m7SJ-kPvEfI

What is the significance of the frog outfit?

[karlhenning]

I'll always take a performer's word for something like this.  You are right, I'm wrong, it's the clarinet quintet (op. 30, 1938  1923) that requires the change of instrument for the third movement.   (info from the notes to the wergo recording)   There's a clarinet quartet from 1938 that I was double-checking

That sounds a fun piece! If I had an e-flat sopranino (and, if I knew a string quartet) that's a piece I'd play!

[listener]

That sounds a fun piece! If I had an e-flat sopranino (and, if I knew a string quartet) that's a piece I'd play!

Then the error was fortuitous (a word I've never used publicly before).
from the notes... "In this third movement, one of the most abandoned and adventurous he ever wrote, he stipulates that it must be an E^b clarinet.  The change from a B^b to an E^b clarinet within a single chamber work was particularly problematic for Philipp Dreisbach because the ombouchures  (embouchures?) differ.  He remembers how he bit through his lips when practising his extremely difficult part..."

The Wergo disc is particularly delightful as it also has the "Repertorium für Militärmusik "Minimax" for String Quartet and the "Overture  zum Fliegende Holländer wie sie eine schlechte Kurkapelle morgens um 7 am Brunnen vom Blatt spielt".    (if you like parodies like the Mozart "Musical Joke" - these are not at all like his Kammermusik, etc.)

[Scarpia]

What is the significance of the frog outfit?

I can only assume that music is pretty dull, so they needed something to hold people's attention.  I lacked the motivation to actually click play on the video.

[karlhenning]

I can only assume that music is pretty dull, so they needed something to hold people's attention.  I lacked the motivation to actually click play on the video.

Hah!  I didn't bother clicking, either.  Stockhausen had a tic for being . . . interesting.  Some folks really go for that.

[Scarpia]

Hah!  I didn't bother clicking, either.  Stockhausen had a tic for being . . . interesting.  Some folks really go for that.

I was more tempted to click on the one where the clarinetist was dressed with the mask like "Jason" in Friday the 13th (or was that "Halloween").  But I saw that one was even longer.