Sunday, July 31, 2011
"Opera on the Clarinet": A Prelude to ClarinetFest 2011
For those of you wanting to get a heads up on ClarinetFest 2011 activities, check out tonight's radio broadcast "Opera on the Clarinet" on The KCSN Opera House radio show at www.kcsn.org at 8pm Pacific Standard Time. Show host Bill Toutant and ClarinetFest 2011 artist director Julia Heinen will present interviews and performances of artists featured in various programs during the festival. The broadcast's line up includes Corrado Gioffredi, Robert Spring, the Vendome Quartet, and other artists.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
ClarinetFest 2011, Here We Come!
It's hard to believe that it's already almost time for another ClarinetFest, this time hosted by Julia Heinen and William Powell at California State University, Northridge. Kellie and I have been reporting on ClarinetFests for four years now here at Clarinet Cache. Our coverage began with the 2008 festival in Kansas City, and in 2009 we had a series of guest posts from those who attended the festival in Portugal. Last year we reported from just down the road in Austin, TX, and this year I'll be on my own covering the festival in L.A.
I'm excited to be participating in the I.C.A. Research Competition, and I've signed up for a tour of the Rico factory in L.A., so I'll definitely be reporting on those experiences as well as all the concerts and other events I can attend! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter (@clarinetcache) for live updates.
As always, it is impossible to get to everything, so I would like to invite festival attendees to contact us if you are interested in submitting a guest post. We could use reports on concerts, master classes, and especially the Young Artist and Orchestra Audition Competitions.
For more information, visit the ClarinetFest 2011 page. See you in L.A.!
I'm excited to be participating in the I.C.A. Research Competition, and I've signed up for a tour of the Rico factory in L.A., so I'll definitely be reporting on those experiences as well as all the concerts and other events I can attend! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter (@clarinetcache) for live updates.
As always, it is impossible to get to everything, so I would like to invite festival attendees to contact us if you are interested in submitting a guest post. We could use reports on concerts, master classes, and especially the Young Artist and Orchestra Audition Competitions.
For more information, visit the ClarinetFest 2011 page. See you in L.A.!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
In Memoriam: Stanley Hasty
It is hard to think of a clarinetist and teacher in the recent past who has left a greater legacy than Stanley Hasty. He performed as principal clarinet with the National Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He taught at Indiana University, the Peabody Conservatory, the Cleveland Institute, the Carnegie Institute, the New England Conservatory, the Juilliard School of Music, and the Eastman School of Music. Many of his students have already become legendary themselves, among them Larry Combs and Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr.
Stanley Hasty passed away on June 22 at the age of 91 due to injuries related to a car accident. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 6, at 11am at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Rochester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saint Paul's David Craighead Organ Restoration Fund.
For more information, see:
Eastman School of Music article including quotations from many of Hasty's students
Obituary from Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Wikipedia article on Hasty including partial list of students
Elisabeth Marie Gunlogson: Stanley Hasty - His Life and Teaching, A treatise submitted to the Florida State University College of Music, 2006
Stanley Hasty passed away on June 22 at the age of 91 due to injuries related to a car accident. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 6, at 11am at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Rochester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saint Paul's David Craighead Organ Restoration Fund.
For more information, see:
Eastman School of Music article including quotations from many of Hasty's students
Obituary from Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Wikipedia article on Hasty including partial list of students
Elisabeth Marie Gunlogson: Stanley Hasty - His Life and Teaching, A treatise submitted to the Florida State University College of Music, 2006
Friday, July 15, 2011
Alternative Keywork
Almost every clarinet player at one point or another has asked ourselves is there an easier way to finger this passage? Although most players own only one type of instrument, there are many different makes and models of clarinets available with modified mechanisms that can facilitate certain intervals or registers. Several models containing alternative keywork have been manufactured and patented over the years; however, not all have survived in today's mainstream market.
Back in our June 2009 column we covered websites that featured equipment and we briefly mentioned the ClarinetPerfection.com site. For those of you who have not had the chance to delve deeper into the website's content, the page for Alternative Keywork is a great resource for information on the various improvements and keywork modifications. Not only does it give an outline of the different models, it also contains numerous up-close photos of keywork so viewers can easily examine the differences. The systems listed include: Mazzeo system, McIntyre, Stubbins, van Perck, Pupeschi, and Full Boehm keywork. At the bottom of the page, links to the National Music Museum provide additional photos and information on 5-key, 6-key, Ottensteiner, and Haynes Thermo clarinets. Pages like this one remind us that our instrument does not reside in a static environment, and maybe the next big improvement is just around the corner.
Back in our June 2009 column we covered websites that featured equipment and we briefly mentioned the ClarinetPerfection.com site. For those of you who have not had the chance to delve deeper into the website's content, the page for Alternative Keywork is a great resource for information on the various improvements and keywork modifications. Not only does it give an outline of the different models, it also contains numerous up-close photos of keywork so viewers can easily examine the differences. The systems listed include: Mazzeo system, McIntyre, Stubbins, van Perck, Pupeschi, and Full Boehm keywork. At the bottom of the page, links to the National Music Museum provide additional photos and information on 5-key, 6-key, Ottensteiner, and Haynes Thermo clarinets. Pages like this one remind us that our instrument does not reside in a static environment, and maybe the next big improvement is just around the corner.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
U.S. Military Band Clarinets (June 2011 column)
The United States military employs more musicians than any other organization in the country. According to a recent NPR feature on military bands, the U.S. Army alone employs an estimated four to five thousand musicians! Since so many of these musicians are clarinetists, we decided to dedicate this column to some of the online resources created by U.S. military bands and their clarinetists.
Full-time orchestral position openings are few and far between these days, so military bands are a popular option for clarinetists looking for a professional performing career. While the audition process for the premier bands is just as rigorous as that for orchestral positions, military band positions are more numerous and provide more financial stability. With some of the best orchestras in the country cutting pay, canceling concerts, and engaging in tense negotiations with musicians, many top performers in the U.S. are turning to the military bands first, lured by steady funding and perks such as student loan repayment. Clarinetists in these bands perform constantly with concert bands and chamber ensembles, and contribute greatly to music education efforts across the country. They are featured in several videos and websites that we’d like to encourage our readers to explore.
U.S. Army Field Band Educational Videos
The U.S. Army Field Band produced a series of educational videos in VHS format, presumably sometime in the 1980s (original publication date unknown). These videos are now available online through the Field Band website, including a series of four videos called “Improving your Clarinet Section”. In the videos, members of the Army Field Band Clarinet Quartet discuss the use of clarinet quartets to develop musicianship in band programs. The videos include discussion of appropriate repertoire for each grade level, with musical excerpts performed by the Army Field Band Clarinet Quartet. Band directors and clarinet teachers will love the tips on embouchure, tonguing, phrasing, blending, balance, jazz style, and more. This video series is a great resource for learning about different levels of repertoire for clarinet quartet and musical concepts that can be taught with each piece.
U.S. Military Bands on YouTube
There are many military band performances available online that feature clarinetists. The “usarmyband” YouTube Channel features an Army Band clarinet ensemble performing “Let’s Dance” (think Benny Goodman, not David Bowie!). We also enjoyed a medley of klezmer tunes played by Tom Puwalski accompanied by the U.S. Army Field band, and a 1960 recording of Harold Malsh playing Bassi’s Fantasy on Themes from Verdi’s Rigoletto with the United States Marine Band.
To see the clarinet section of the U.S. Army Band in action, check out their 2009 performance of Clarinet Candy in front of the U.S. Capital building in Washington, D.C. Aimed directly at the entire section performing standing up, this YouTube video captures the agility, precision, and fast fingers of the clarinet section, including footage of the principal clarinetist realizing that each member of the clarinet section behind him has sat down and gradually dropped out of the music. This moment of surprise is caught on camera as he turns around to see his all of his colleagues seated, leaving him to finish off the piece as the last clarinetist standing. Check out our “Military Bands” YouTube playlist to watch these videos and more.
Clarineticus Intergalacticus
Kristen Mather’s newly formulated blog, Clarineticus Intergalacticus, has made its own niche in the blog world by highlighting the careers of clarinetists in military bands. Already starting off the year with twelve entries as of February 2011, her blog is not limited to writing about the clarinet in the armed services, but also includes various topics of interest and educational resources. As a military musician herself, Mather has been a clarinetist in the West Point Band since 2007 and also performs with the chamber ensemble Quintette 7 (featured in a February 2011 post on our blog), which includes members from the West Point Concert Band and the West Point’s Field Music Group, the Hellcats.
Starting off with a list of questions sent out to clarinetists within the various Army bands, Mather has already begun to gather a handful of interviews of clarinet players, some of which hold positions in the West Point Concert Band and The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” The interviewees answer candidly to questions about their favorite memories of basic training, the average work week, and the weirdest thing they do at their job, sharing their personal experiences as clarinetists in the military bands. We found ourselves wishing for a post containing Mather’s own responses to the list of questions she poses to her colleagues!
Another category on her blog includes “What am I Listening to Today.” In these posts she features videos of groups or performers that have sparked her interest. Wandering away from the mainstream musical path, Mather writes about music involving the clarinet in a variety of musical contexts. Her recommended artists and ensembles to date include jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen in the Choro Ensemble, the Claudia Quintet with clarinetist Chris Speed, and Turkish music featuring the gypsy clarinet sounds of Hüsnü Şenlendirici. Offering a sample of her musical tastes as a musician who makes a living performing concert band repertoire, Mather opens her readers up to possibly new and unfamiliar music or unknown artists. Although Clarineticus Intergalacticus is a relatively new blog, it is a must-read for any clarinetist interested in pursuing a career in the military service bands.
Have we missed anything? Let us know about military band clarinetists in the U.S. and other countries by e-mailing us or leaving your comments on this post.
Full-time orchestral position openings are few and far between these days, so military bands are a popular option for clarinetists looking for a professional performing career. While the audition process for the premier bands is just as rigorous as that for orchestral positions, military band positions are more numerous and provide more financial stability. With some of the best orchestras in the country cutting pay, canceling concerts, and engaging in tense negotiations with musicians, many top performers in the U.S. are turning to the military bands first, lured by steady funding and perks such as student loan repayment. Clarinetists in these bands perform constantly with concert bands and chamber ensembles, and contribute greatly to music education efforts across the country. They are featured in several videos and websites that we’d like to encourage our readers to explore.
U.S. Army Field Band Educational Videos
The U.S. Army Field Band produced a series of educational videos in VHS format, presumably sometime in the 1980s (original publication date unknown). These videos are now available online through the Field Band website, including a series of four videos called “Improving your Clarinet Section”. In the videos, members of the Army Field Band Clarinet Quartet discuss the use of clarinet quartets to develop musicianship in band programs. The videos include discussion of appropriate repertoire for each grade level, with musical excerpts performed by the Army Field Band Clarinet Quartet. Band directors and clarinet teachers will love the tips on embouchure, tonguing, phrasing, blending, balance, jazz style, and more. This video series is a great resource for learning about different levels of repertoire for clarinet quartet and musical concepts that can be taught with each piece.
U.S. Military Bands on YouTube
There are many military band performances available online that feature clarinetists. The “usarmyband” YouTube Channel features an Army Band clarinet ensemble performing “Let’s Dance” (think Benny Goodman, not David Bowie!). We also enjoyed a medley of klezmer tunes played by Tom Puwalski accompanied by the U.S. Army Field band, and a 1960 recording of Harold Malsh playing Bassi’s Fantasy on Themes from Verdi’s Rigoletto with the United States Marine Band.
To see the clarinet section of the U.S. Army Band in action, check out their 2009 performance of Clarinet Candy in front of the U.S. Capital building in Washington, D.C. Aimed directly at the entire section performing standing up, this YouTube video captures the agility, precision, and fast fingers of the clarinet section, including footage of the principal clarinetist realizing that each member of the clarinet section behind him has sat down and gradually dropped out of the music. This moment of surprise is caught on camera as he turns around to see his all of his colleagues seated, leaving him to finish off the piece as the last clarinetist standing. Check out our “Military Bands” YouTube playlist to watch these videos and more.
Clarineticus Intergalacticus
Kristen Mather’s newly formulated blog, Clarineticus Intergalacticus, has made its own niche in the blog world by highlighting the careers of clarinetists in military bands. Already starting off the year with twelve entries as of February 2011, her blog is not limited to writing about the clarinet in the armed services, but also includes various topics of interest and educational resources. As a military musician herself, Mather has been a clarinetist in the West Point Band since 2007 and also performs with the chamber ensemble Quintette 7 (featured in a February 2011 post on our blog), which includes members from the West Point Concert Band and the West Point’s Field Music Group, the Hellcats.
Starting off with a list of questions sent out to clarinetists within the various Army bands, Mather has already begun to gather a handful of interviews of clarinet players, some of which hold positions in the West Point Concert Band and The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” The interviewees answer candidly to questions about their favorite memories of basic training, the average work week, and the weirdest thing they do at their job, sharing their personal experiences as clarinetists in the military bands. We found ourselves wishing for a post containing Mather’s own responses to the list of questions she poses to her colleagues!
Another category on her blog includes “What am I Listening to Today.” In these posts she features videos of groups or performers that have sparked her interest. Wandering away from the mainstream musical path, Mather writes about music involving the clarinet in a variety of musical contexts. Her recommended artists and ensembles to date include jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen in the Choro Ensemble, the Claudia Quintet with clarinetist Chris Speed, and Turkish music featuring the gypsy clarinet sounds of Hüsnü Şenlendirici. Offering a sample of her musical tastes as a musician who makes a living performing concert band repertoire, Mather opens her readers up to possibly new and unfamiliar music or unknown artists. Although Clarineticus Intergalacticus is a relatively new blog, it is a must-read for any clarinetist interested in pursuing a career in the military service bands.
Have we missed anything? Let us know about military band clarinetists in the U.S. and other countries by e-mailing us or leaving your comments on this post.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Metronome Apps in Review
Every clarinetist needs a metronome for practicing and teaching. An increasing number of people are using metronome apps rather than traditional metronomes, but the number of metronome applications available for iPod/iPhone is overwhelming. A metronome is a seemingly simple concept, but these apps vary wildly in tempo ranges, options for subdivisions and meters, and even accuracy. We compared some of the cheapest and most popular metronome apps to guide you in selecting one that fits your needs.
The most important attribute in a metronome for professional musicians is accuracy, and a surprising number of these apps failed to keep time when we tested them in comparison with a Dr. Beat DB-66. Extreme low and high metronome settings can also be useful - why stop at 210 bpm when you can go to 800? We looked at these features and more, and came up with a list that we hope will be helpful to those of you searching for the perfect app. Here are the metronomes we tested, in order from best to worst:
(Note: We were only able to test metronome apps for iOS platforms, but we've heard that "Mobile Metronome" works great on Android devices.)
Metronome: Tempo by Frozen Ape - $1.99
Verdict: Lives up to the hype
This app was recommended to us by quite a few people, and for good reason: $1.99 is a small price to pay for a good metronome, and this one has lots of adjustable settings for visuals and sounds. It offers an accurate tap feature, and the "setlist" function lets you save multiple metronome settings and switch between them quickly.
Accuracy: good
Range: 10 - 800
Sound: medium loud, offers choice of 9 different sound sets
Rhythms: Offers all common meters and subdivisions, but no odd meters like 5/4. Allows muting of any beat within the meter.
Visuals: very small pendulum; can also turn on a flash which makes the whole screen flash red on each beat.
Steinway Metronome by Steinway Musical Instruments - FREE
Verdict: best free app, use with external speakers
Unlike most free metronome apps, this one has a tap function. It features a circular dial and a visual flash that can be turned on and off.
Accuracy: overall stays on track but slight glitch noticeable at high speeds
Range: 35-224
Sound: quiet, only one choice of sound
Rhythms: choice of many different meters, but no subdivisions
Visuals: can be set to flash on downbeat or all beats
Metronome Plus by Dynamic App Design - $.99
Verdict: Decent app - wait to buy until more features are added
According to the developers, future updates will include a tap function and more features.
Accuracy: good
Range: 30 - 300
Sound: loudest of the apps tested; four different sound choices
Rhythms: good choice of meters; can choose subdivisions but no dotted sixteenth or first-and-third triplet rhythms
Visuals: orange light moves back and forth
EasyBeats LE by Hopefully Useful Software - FREE (Pro version is $4.99)
Verdict: Fun and accurate metronome alternative
A metronome is essentially a simple drum machine, so why not play scales to a rock-n-roll beat, or create a jazz pattern for working on swing rhythms? This app allows you to create your own beat pattern using sixteen different drum sounds. The downside is that making beats can take a while, and you have to pay an extra $.99 for the ability to save patterns.
Accuracy: good
Range: 0.0 - 220.0 (allows adjustment to 1/10 of a bpm but slider is difficult to adjust with accuracy)
Sound: loud, offers variety of drumset sounds
Rhythms: many subdivision possibilities, but the basic loop is set up in 4/4
Visuals: can watch beat patterns in two different views - pads (where pads light up as they sound) or patterns (where a line moves across the pattern - see screenshot).
BackBeat Free by Cameron Bytheway (Pro version is $2.99)
Verdict: inaccurate but useful for tone generator
This app has ads, but the pro version is ad-free, and features a tap function and additional sounds. The preset player doesn't work in free version, and accuracy is poor despite claims of "ultra-accurate timekeeping engine." Good tone generator with 7 octaves, though.
Accuracy: poor
Range: 40 - 220
Sound: quiet, no sound options
Rhythms: has sliders for volume of beat and subdivision - similar to Dr. Beat style metronomes
Visuals: set of lights that flash with each beat.
Metronome - reloaded by Chris & Uwe - FREE
Verdict: avoid this app
A pendulum-style metronome like the one below but with a more modern design and with banner ads. It allows user to key in the tempo using a keypad. This metronome has a "timing adjustment" slider to make up for the "metronome timing drift" on different devices. I tried to match up the speed of this app with my DB-66, and ended up with a 2.1% timing adjustment, a metronome that still wouldn't beat at 120 bpm consistently, and five minutes of my life that I'll never get back.
Accuracy: poor, even with "timing adjustment" slider.
Range: 30 - 209
Sound: Quiet, Only one sound
Rhythms: Can choose each number of the time signature from a slider, allowing any combination from 2/2 to 12/12 (useful if you're performing the music of Henry Cowell, perhaps). No subdivisions available.
Visuals: Pendulum
Metronome by MarketWall.com - FREE
Verdict: avoid this app
This simple app attempts to emulate the old-school pendulum metronome. It is difficult to adjust the slider to an exact tempo.
Accuracy: poor
Range: 1 - 210
Sounds - very quiet and only one choice of sound
Rhythms - only allows 2/4, 3/4, 4/4
Visuals: pendulum
The most important attribute in a metronome for professional musicians is accuracy, and a surprising number of these apps failed to keep time when we tested them in comparison with a Dr. Beat DB-66. Extreme low and high metronome settings can also be useful - why stop at 210 bpm when you can go to 800? We looked at these features and more, and came up with a list that we hope will be helpful to those of you searching for the perfect app. Here are the metronomes we tested, in order from best to worst:
(Note: We were only able to test metronome apps for iOS platforms, but we've heard that "Mobile Metronome" works great on Android devices.)
Metronome: Tempo by Frozen Ape - $1.99Verdict: Lives up to the hype
This app was recommended to us by quite a few people, and for good reason: $1.99 is a small price to pay for a good metronome, and this one has lots of adjustable settings for visuals and sounds. It offers an accurate tap feature, and the "setlist" function lets you save multiple metronome settings and switch between them quickly.
Accuracy: good
Range: 10 - 800
Sound: medium loud, offers choice of 9 different sound sets
Rhythms: Offers all common meters and subdivisions, but no odd meters like 5/4. Allows muting of any beat within the meter.
Visuals: very small pendulum; can also turn on a flash which makes the whole screen flash red on each beat.
Steinway Metronome by Steinway Musical Instruments - FREEVerdict: best free app, use with external speakers
Unlike most free metronome apps, this one has a tap function. It features a circular dial and a visual flash that can be turned on and off.
Accuracy: overall stays on track but slight glitch noticeable at high speeds
Range: 35-224
Sound: quiet, only one choice of sound
Rhythms: choice of many different meters, but no subdivisions
Visuals: can be set to flash on downbeat or all beats
Metronome Plus by Dynamic App Design - $.99Verdict: Decent app - wait to buy until more features are added
According to the developers, future updates will include a tap function and more features.
Accuracy: good
Range: 30 - 300
Sound: loudest of the apps tested; four different sound choices
Rhythms: good choice of meters; can choose subdivisions but no dotted sixteenth or first-and-third triplet rhythms
Visuals: orange light moves back and forth
EasyBeats LE by Hopefully Useful Software - FREE (Pro version is $4.99)Verdict: Fun and accurate metronome alternative
A metronome is essentially a simple drum machine, so why not play scales to a rock-n-roll beat, or create a jazz pattern for working on swing rhythms? This app allows you to create your own beat pattern using sixteen different drum sounds. The downside is that making beats can take a while, and you have to pay an extra $.99 for the ability to save patterns.
Accuracy: good
Range: 0.0 - 220.0 (allows adjustment to 1/10 of a bpm but slider is difficult to adjust with accuracy)
Sound: loud, offers variety of drumset sounds
Rhythms: many subdivision possibilities, but the basic loop is set up in 4/4
Visuals: can watch beat patterns in two different views - pads (where pads light up as they sound) or patterns (where a line moves across the pattern - see screenshot).
BackBeat Free by Cameron Bytheway (Pro version is $2.99)Verdict: inaccurate but useful for tone generator
This app has ads, but the pro version is ad-free, and features a tap function and additional sounds. The preset player doesn't work in free version, and accuracy is poor despite claims of "ultra-accurate timekeeping engine." Good tone generator with 7 octaves, though.
Accuracy: poor
Range: 40 - 220
Sound: quiet, no sound options
Rhythms: has sliders for volume of beat and subdivision - similar to Dr. Beat style metronomes
Visuals: set of lights that flash with each beat.
Metronome - reloaded by Chris & Uwe - FREEVerdict: avoid this app
A pendulum-style metronome like the one below but with a more modern design and with banner ads. It allows user to key in the tempo using a keypad. This metronome has a "timing adjustment" slider to make up for the "metronome timing drift" on different devices. I tried to match up the speed of this app with my DB-66, and ended up with a 2.1% timing adjustment, a metronome that still wouldn't beat at 120 bpm consistently, and five minutes of my life that I'll never get back.
Accuracy: poor, even with "timing adjustment" slider.
Range: 30 - 209
Sound: Quiet, Only one sound
Rhythms: Can choose each number of the time signature from a slider, allowing any combination from 2/2 to 12/12 (useful if you're performing the music of Henry Cowell, perhaps). No subdivisions available.
Visuals: Pendulum
Metronome by MarketWall.com - FREEVerdict: avoid this app
This simple app attempts to emulate the old-school pendulum metronome. It is difficult to adjust the slider to an exact tempo.
Accuracy: poor
Range: 1 - 210
Sounds - very quiet and only one choice of sound
Rhythms - only allows 2/4, 3/4, 4/4
Visuals: pendulum
Friday, May 20, 2011
ClarinetMike Blog
A new blog by Michael Dean is one of our latest discoveries. In the short time span of only a couple of months, he has already written twenty-five posts on his site ClarinetMike Blog. An active performer and clinician, Dean is also the Associate Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone at Southeast Missouri State University. His variety of posts include educational entries, time management tips, posts on clarinetists (including a list of famous people who have played clarinet), and video links. One point of interest is a link to Michael Rusinek's video on developing articulation speed found on the Rico website. Dean also includes entries which direct viewers to various articles by him. Although he mainly writes about the clarinet, he has also included a few saxophone posts. Don't forget additional blog sites can be found on the "Links" button on our home page!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Musical Chairs: Steve Williamson and the Chicago Symphony
The word from Facebook's "Clarinet Jobs" is that Steve Williamson has been offered the position of principal clarinet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This may be the final chapter of a saga that has been ongoing since January of 2008 (!) when preliminary auditions were first held to fill the vacancy left by Larry Combs' retirement at the end of that season. Steve Williamson, trained at Eastman and Juilliard, has been principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera since 2003. He has not yet accepted the position and there has been no official announcement from the CSO.
If you're on Facebook, you can view the discussion here.
This thread on the Clarinet BBoard continues the conversation, including a cameo from Anthony McGill.
The selection of the next CSO principal clarinet has generated much discussion in the three and a half years since the audition process began. Clarinetists at the BBoard and Clarinet Jobs (not to mention late-night ClarinetFest debates) have had plenty to say about those who auditioned, those who didn't, Ricardo Morales declining the position, and the state of orchestral auditions and performing positions in general. For further reading, you might wish to check out this Clarinet BBoard thread from 2008 - an interesting look back at the history of this process.
If you're on Facebook, you can view the discussion here.
This thread on the Clarinet BBoard continues the conversation, including a cameo from Anthony McGill.
The selection of the next CSO principal clarinet has generated much discussion in the three and a half years since the audition process began. Clarinetists at the BBoard and Clarinet Jobs (not to mention late-night ClarinetFest debates) have had plenty to say about those who auditioned, those who didn't, Ricardo Morales declining the position, and the state of orchestral auditions and performing positions in general. For further reading, you might wish to check out this Clarinet BBoard thread from 2008 - an interesting look back at the history of this process.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Sean Osborn
We'd like to direct your attention today to the personal website of Sean Osborn. A clarinetist and composer, Osborn was the youngest clarinetist to play with the Metropolitan Opera when he joined the orchestra in 1989. His teachers include Stanley Hasty, Frank Kowalsky and Eric Mandat.
The "Educational" section of Osborn's website features several articles of interest to clarinetists and teachers, such as an article about establishing a daily warm-up routine, and another on tips on fingerings from Stanley Hasty. Especially notable are the instructional articles on individual orchestral excerpts including the Beethoven symphonies and Mendelssohn "Scherzo." Some of the articles have links to videos demonstrating the excerpts -- Osborn's video of himself playing the Mendelssohn excerpt was featured here as one of our top ten videos of 2010.
Video augments several other articles as well; a "legato fingers" article includes videos of incorrect movements that students might make as they try to learn the technique, and an interesting video from inside Osborn's mouth helps to illustrate articulation principles. He has also uploaded his copy of the solo part to Mozart with phrasing markings written in.
And just for fun, Osborn has developed an extensive collection of "Musician Jokes," including gems like the following:
Q: What do clarinetists use for birth control?
A: Their personalities.
Enjoy!
The "Educational" section of Osborn's website features several articles of interest to clarinetists and teachers, such as an article about establishing a daily warm-up routine, and another on tips on fingerings from Stanley Hasty. Especially notable are the instructional articles on individual orchestral excerpts including the Beethoven symphonies and Mendelssohn "Scherzo." Some of the articles have links to videos demonstrating the excerpts -- Osborn's video of himself playing the Mendelssohn excerpt was featured here as one of our top ten videos of 2010.
Video augments several other articles as well; a "legato fingers" article includes videos of incorrect movements that students might make as they try to learn the technique, and an interesting video from inside Osborn's mouth helps to illustrate articulation principles. He has also uploaded his copy of the solo part to Mozart with phrasing markings written in.
And just for fun, Osborn has developed an extensive collection of "Musician Jokes," including gems like the following:
Q: What do clarinetists use for birth control?
A: Their personalities.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Website Watch (March 2011 column)
We are constantly discovering more website that offer interesting resources for the clarinetist. Here are a few of our favorites we've come across recently.
Richie Hawley
Immediately upon visiting the personal web site of Richie Hawley the ears are treated to the sounds of his beautiful and exquisite tone. Recently appointed professor of clarinet at Rice University, Hawley has been principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony since the age of 23. His site includes not only an impressive biography and calendar of scheduled performances on his site, but also an assortment of audio clips and videos. The selection of audio files highlights various excerpts from the standard orchestral repertory as well as some solo chamber works. Although they are not complete in performance, they nonetheless showcase Hawley’s lush sound and impeccable intonation, and would be a great reference recordings for for use in study of orchestral excerpts.
In his interviews in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra “Prelude Videos,” Hawley discusses the roles and significance given to the clarinet in pieces such as Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Respighi’s Pines of Rome. Offering the insight of an accomplished orchestral player, these interviews are enlightening and interesting to listen to. Another component of the web site worthy of mention is his blog -- unfortunately there are only three entries listed for the year but hopefully he will continue to add to the roster with future posts. Check out his posts on an insider’s survey on orchestral etiquette and advice on how to prepare for an audition. His words of wisdom apply to anyone pursuing orchestral positions or taking auditions.
Phil Pedler
Phil Pedler’s Clarinet Pages is a remarkable collection of information about different makes and models of clarinets. Pedler (who holds an M.M. in clarinet performance from the New England Conservatory) repairs and sells clarinets, posting an entry on his website about each new model of clarinet he encounters. The result is a treasure trove of information on about one hundred different makes and models of clarinets, including close-up photos of mechanisms, serial numbers, intonation tendencies, bore measurements, and more. He often gives recommendations on whether certain models would be most appropriate for beginners, intermediate players, professionals, or whether they should be avoided altogether.
Pedler has compiled several other reference pages, such as his “Clarinet Shopping Advice” page instructing parents on which brands of clarinet not to buy for their son or daughter, with advice about Ebay scams. He often makes external references to support and augment his information, linking to resources by Tom Ridenour, Sherman Friedland, and threads at Woodwind.org. These notes, along with the absence of commercial advertising, make Clarinet Pages a clear cut above most websites about buying and selling clarinets. Pedler works on clarinets as a hobby, and so his site focuses on answering questions and educating the public. The only real advertising on this site can be found in his entertaining photo albums of vintage advertisements for mouthpieces and reeds!
John Robert Brown
On the “other side of the pond,” we find the web site of John Robert Brown, chairman of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain. John Robert Brown’s site is an extensive resource with a large section of articles devoted solely to the clarinet. With a seemingly endless supply of articles and topics that apply to all types of musicians, an entire day is necessary to browse through all of the content on his site; here, we will take a closer look at some of the clarinet-related materials.
With focus on English clarinetists, the diverse list of articles covers topics ranging from career decisions to the life achievements of Stanley Drucker. Also included are interviews with the likes of Morrie Backun, about the development of his business, and Victoria Soames Samek, about managing the Clarinet Classics recording label. Brown is also familiar with the jazz scene (he wrote the chapter on Jazz Clarinet in The Cambridge Companion to the Clarinet), and there are more jewels to be found in the “jazz” section with articles on artists such as Artie Shaw and others top players from the Swing era in Britain.
There is also a good read on the woodwind ensemble London Winds, featuring clarinetist Michael Collins, who gives a candid view on the life of an internationally-travelling musician and recording artist. In the interest of improving and discovering new materials used for pads on woodwind instruments, check out the article on Eddie Ashton’s new type of black plastic pads. Whether you are looking for information on a particular British artist or just looking for a good read, John Robert Brown’s web site is a great source for all single-reed players.
Richie Hawley
Immediately upon visiting the personal web site of Richie Hawley the ears are treated to the sounds of his beautiful and exquisite tone. Recently appointed professor of clarinet at Rice University, Hawley has been principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony since the age of 23. His site includes not only an impressive biography and calendar of scheduled performances on his site, but also an assortment of audio clips and videos. The selection of audio files highlights various excerpts from the standard orchestral repertory as well as some solo chamber works. Although they are not complete in performance, they nonetheless showcase Hawley’s lush sound and impeccable intonation, and would be a great reference recordings for for use in study of orchestral excerpts.
In his interviews in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra “Prelude Videos,” Hawley discusses the roles and significance given to the clarinet in pieces such as Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Respighi’s Pines of Rome. Offering the insight of an accomplished orchestral player, these interviews are enlightening and interesting to listen to. Another component of the web site worthy of mention is his blog -- unfortunately there are only three entries listed for the year but hopefully he will continue to add to the roster with future posts. Check out his posts on an insider’s survey on orchestral etiquette and advice on how to prepare for an audition. His words of wisdom apply to anyone pursuing orchestral positions or taking auditions.
Phil Pedler
Phil Pedler’s Clarinet Pages is a remarkable collection of information about different makes and models of clarinets. Pedler (who holds an M.M. in clarinet performance from the New England Conservatory) repairs and sells clarinets, posting an entry on his website about each new model of clarinet he encounters. The result is a treasure trove of information on about one hundred different makes and models of clarinets, including close-up photos of mechanisms, serial numbers, intonation tendencies, bore measurements, and more. He often gives recommendations on whether certain models would be most appropriate for beginners, intermediate players, professionals, or whether they should be avoided altogether.
Pedler has compiled several other reference pages, such as his “Clarinet Shopping Advice” page instructing parents on which brands of clarinet not to buy for their son or daughter, with advice about Ebay scams. He often makes external references to support and augment his information, linking to resources by Tom Ridenour, Sherman Friedland, and threads at Woodwind.org. These notes, along with the absence of commercial advertising, make Clarinet Pages a clear cut above most websites about buying and selling clarinets. Pedler works on clarinets as a hobby, and so his site focuses on answering questions and educating the public. The only real advertising on this site can be found in his entertaining photo albums of vintage advertisements for mouthpieces and reeds!
John Robert Brown
On the “other side of the pond,” we find the web site of John Robert Brown, chairman of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain. John Robert Brown’s site is an extensive resource with a large section of articles devoted solely to the clarinet. With a seemingly endless supply of articles and topics that apply to all types of musicians, an entire day is necessary to browse through all of the content on his site; here, we will take a closer look at some of the clarinet-related materials.
With focus on English clarinetists, the diverse list of articles covers topics ranging from career decisions to the life achievements of Stanley Drucker. Also included are interviews with the likes of Morrie Backun, about the development of his business, and Victoria Soames Samek, about managing the Clarinet Classics recording label. Brown is also familiar with the jazz scene (he wrote the chapter on Jazz Clarinet in The Cambridge Companion to the Clarinet), and there are more jewels to be found in the “jazz” section with articles on artists such as Artie Shaw and others top players from the Swing era in Britain.
There is also a good read on the woodwind ensemble London Winds, featuring clarinetist Michael Collins, who gives a candid view on the life of an internationally-travelling musician and recording artist. In the interest of improving and discovering new materials used for pads on woodwind instruments, check out the article on Eddie Ashton’s new type of black plastic pads. Whether you are looking for information on a particular British artist or just looking for a good read, John Robert Brown’s web site is a great source for all single-reed players.
As always, we welcome recommendations of others websites we should know about!
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