Mike thanks so much for doing these tutorials. They are so helpful.. You’re truly an amazing gift to the wind community and beyond. You also make it fun too. Bravo, Yours, George from Riverside
What is the meaning of the tiny, subscript G, an octave below the high note? I'm a professional, yet I have never seen this before - I have played this symphony in orchestra several times, as first and as second bassoon (one of Beethoven's most exposed bassoon parts) so I sit right next to the clarinettist going through this, but I have never see the weitten part until a couple of days ago. I attended a Chicago Symphony concert a few days ago where this symphony was performed. I was surprised at the end of the Trio section of the Menuet, where the clarinet plays this high G Maestro Muti did not apply the slightest ritard. It was straight-forward and back to the top without skipping a beat. I have always heard and played this section with a tiny ritard at the end (making the clarinet solo part even more exposed) so I went to check the score to see if there was any indication by the composer. There is none, nevertheless I still feel a ritard is implied, though Muti has every right and reason to play it straight and sober here. It was here - checking the score for tempo indications that I saw this tiny subscript low note. It is certainly never played - not that I've ever heard - but what is its meaning? Is it an alternate - for some player who fears he will not quite make the high squeak?
Why not play it staccato? Because every other modern player plays them legato? To me that isn't a very good reason. And you say "It dosen't sound very Beethoven" I would argue it does since he wrote it as staccato, albeit with a slur too. If Bethoven wrote it, then it does sound Beethoven. We shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the older styles of playing and the articulations favored in favour of what our modern gut feeling tells us is correct.
Great conversation-starter! My goal with this video is to prepare this excerpt for auditions, which are conducted by modern players with modern expectations. Iconoclasm isn't rewarded in auditions, and "fitting in" is (for better...or for worse). Further, playing this work in an orchestra will require that the player match the approach (and articulation) of the other instruments. And, of course there's the conductor who can change all the rules as desired. So, yes, in a practice room, we can play it any way we want; in public, for an audition, not so much.
Hey. I have some questions. I’ve been thinking about making an extension for my Bb clarinet so it can go down to a low c. I have some design ideas. But the questions I have are how do I know where do cut tone holes into the extension and how do I make the keys? Could I make the keys out of wood or possibly 3D print them.
A bottom joint that goes down to the low C exists for a Bb clarinet, Sabine Meyer has one and my Paris repairman (and clarinet pro too) has one. But he says that it is not easy to play, and it has only 2 extra notes : C and D, no C# and D#. The keys are activated by the right thumb, you absolutely need a neck strap (or equivalent) to play it.
You can either get an extension, or get a German system clarinet (most of them have this extension), although the fingers on the German system are different than the french Boehm system.
Bet it's the video through the computer. Definitely does not sound thin in person, and I listened to him practice it for HOURS before making the video, lol.
AAARRRGGGHHHHH, I'm jealous of your black clarinets ... darn !
🖤
If they really knew you well then they would have made it go to low C
Thank you for this! Reminds me to practice my excerpts. Doing it now.
Mike thanks so much for doing these tutorials. They are so helpful.. You’re truly an amazing gift to the wind community and beyond. You also make it fun too. Bravo, Yours, George from Riverside
Beautiful!
You should reveiw the cheapest clarinet on Amazon
i wish there was someone like you in the violin world:´(
Yup: That last note is a real butt-clencher. (And I will hereby steal that expression and add it to my clarinet-learning repertoire.)
PTSD flashbacks to auditions at school.....thanks so much. lol. ;)
All black Bb nice
I swear when I look up these type of clarinets I can never find them
VERY GOOD WORK AS AWAYS! And Beatfull instrument! Congrats!
The recording he used was the Chicago Symphony under the directon of Georg Solti
Let’s go a post!!
Great vid as ever, Michael. Just wondering which mouthpiece you use on the Bb. I use a B50 on my Bass the same as you.
I use a Vandoren B45• (
11:53 Russ Dagon! Awesome
Very nice!
Rik Spector
What is the meaning of the tiny, subscript G, an octave below the high note?
I'm a professional, yet I have never seen this before - I have played this symphony in orchestra several times, as first and as second bassoon (one of Beethoven's most exposed bassoon parts) so I sit right next to the clarinettist going through this, but I have never see the weitten part until a couple of days ago.
I attended a Chicago Symphony concert a few days ago where this symphony was performed. I was surprised at the end of the Trio section of the Menuet, where the clarinet plays this high G Maestro Muti did not apply the slightest ritard. It was straight-forward and back to the top without skipping a beat. I have always heard and played this section with a tiny ritard at the end (making the clarinet solo part even more exposed) so I went to check the score to see if there was any indication by the composer. There is none, nevertheless I still feel a ritard is implied, though Muti has every right and reason to play it straight and sober here.
It was here - checking the score for tempo indications that I saw this tiny subscript low note.
It is certainly never played - not that I've ever heard - but what is its meaning? Is it an alternate - for some player who fears he will not quite make the high squeak?
Why not play it staccato? Because every other modern player plays them legato? To me that isn't a very good reason. And you say "It dosen't sound very Beethoven" I would argue it does since he wrote it as staccato, albeit with a slur too. If Bethoven wrote it, then it does sound Beethoven. We shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the older styles of playing and the articulations favored in favour of what our modern gut feeling tells us is correct.
Great conversation-starter! My goal with this video is to prepare this excerpt for auditions, which are conducted by modern players with modern expectations. Iconoclasm isn't rewarded in auditions, and "fitting in" is (for better...or for worse). Further, playing this work in an orchestra will require that the player match the approach (and articulation) of the other instruments. And, of course there's the conductor who can change all the rules as desired. So, yes, in a practice room, we can play it any way we want; in public, for an audition, not so much.
Earspasm Music Great answer!
I think it actually is portato
Is that the standard tempo for this excerpt? Or do people play it slower too?
Is that the Philadelphia recording?
I just realized there won't be any plating wear with that!
O_O MINI DARK KNIGHT!?!??!!
You should review the new Hawkins|Backun Vocalise mouthpieces. They have really created something special imo!
Sheet music?
I always appreciate sheet music to try the parts myself.
Read off your own
Beethoven still has the copyright?
conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/8/88/IMSLP23758-PMLP01605-Beethoven_Symphony8_Cls.pdf
What clarinet this is ???
He tells you before the excerpt
Hey. I have some questions. I’ve been thinking about making an extension for my Bb clarinet so it can go down to a low c. I have some design ideas. But the questions I have are how do I know where do cut tone holes into the extension and how do I make the keys? Could I make the keys out of wood or possibly 3D print them.
Just buy a basset clarinet?
Why. Aren’t they expensive as hell
A bottom joint that goes down to the low C exists for a Bb clarinet, Sabine Meyer has one and my Paris repairman (and clarinet pro too) has one. But he says that it is not easy to play, and it has only 2 extra notes : C and D, no C# and D#. The keys are activated by the right thumb, you absolutely need a neck strap (or equivalent) to play it.
You could send it to someone to have it extended.
You can either get an extension, or get a German system clarinet (most of them have this extension), although the fingers on the German system are different than the french Boehm system.
I usually like your videos, but here you seem to have adopted that super thin Michael Norsworthy sound.
Sounds like TH-cam sound compression to me
Bet it's the video through the computer. Definitely does not sound thin in person, and I listened to him practice it for HOURS before making the video, lol.