J.S. Bach's Sinfonia 2 BWV 788 in an arrangement for 2 clarinets in B flat & bass clarinet. If an Eb clarinet is available this can be used as a subst Show More...
J.S. Bach's Sinfonia 2 BWV 788 in an arrangement for 2 clarinets in B flat & bass clarinet. If an Eb clarinet is available this can be used as a substitute for the clarinet in Bb 1. All four parts are available in the pdf download. The realisation playback at 58 dotted quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute. In the realisation it is the sounds of 2 clarinets in Bb and bass clarinet that feature. The clarinet in Eb substitutes for the clarinet in Bb 1 if available. Bass clarinettists may want to consider some octave transpositions to avoid the low notes of this instruments register. In this version ornaments have been omitted. Playing the relevant minor scale in all its forms natural, harmonic and melodic would be excellent preparation for playing this sinfonia. The voice leading in this sinfonia is not altogether straightforward and players will need to pay attention to the accidentals in the score possibly adding reminders if required. Conflicting accidentals often appear in different voices in the same bar. A sinfonia that features arpeggios and scale runs with the rhythmic shapes in the lines having a strong repetitive element. The note values given in Bach’s Sinfonias often give an indication of intended articulations that are intended. Players should be aiming for a singing legato in their playing. The movement needs to be played, in the first instance, with an awareness of the patterns of 3 in the 12/8 time signature. (4 x 3 to the bar). Accompaniments are in place playing at 56, 58, 60, 62 & 64 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats per minute (bpm). They feature the clarinet in Bb 2 and bass clarinet sounding voices 2 & 3 of Bach’s composition. There is a one bar click track sounding on the woodblock as an introduction. Rests have been indicated in the voices as they are in the keyboard version of the works Some of the rhythmic notation particularly with regards to the use of rests is ambiguous. Logic and rules do not universally apply. What tends to be in place is what is good for the eye. The 3 part Sinfonias and 2 part Inventions are excellent movement for developing listening skills, good intonation and ensemble playing. The Sinfonias are works conceived for three voices and feature compositional processes very much associated with Bach’s contrapuntal writing namely: repetition, inversion, imitation, augmentation, diminution, stretto. In these works the closely related keys of the dominant, sub-dominant, relative minor are explored The movement should not be played too quickly. The music editor’s advice is that players need to be clear in their intention as far as the articulation of the lines and the dynamics. Whilst a movement that needs to be played with control there also needs to be a lightness of intention in the playing approach. PlentyMusic arrangements provides music practice opportunities & experiences to instrumentalists of playing along with other instruments preparing the way for quality ensemble playing. Close
Joaquin Malats Serenata Española from his Impressions of Spain arr. clarinet sextet comprising clarinet in Eb or a clarinet in Bb playing the melody Show More...
Joaquin Malats Serenata Española from his Impressions of Spain arr. clarinet sextet comprising clarinet in Eb or a clarinet in Bb playing the melody line , 3 additional clarinets in Bb & 2 bass clarinets Individual instrument parts are appended to the full sheet music score in the pdf download A sunny piece that features many characteristics typical of Spanish music. Individual instrument parts are appended to the full score available as a pdf download. Accompaniments are in place enabling the clarinet in Eb or clarinet in Bb 1 player to practice and play as part of an ensemble. They play at 104, 108,112, 116 & 120 bpm. There is a 4 bar click track to prepare players for this ensemble experience. In this arrangement the long trill in the clarinet in Eb or clarinet in Bb 1 part should be considered as an option and probably best omitted whilst the music is being learnt. The workability of this arrangement does need to be evaluated and PlentyMusic would value feedback from musicians trying out this arrangement. It is possible that there are better octave options in the parts that could be explored. animando used in the score implies an increase in tempo and has been placed above the stave as a score marking The music in this sounds in the key of G minor. Playing the scale in the sounding key of G in all its forms would be excellent preparation for playing this work major, harmonic & melodic minor and the phrygian mode. The origins of this piece are as a piano solo although there are many arrangements to be discovered for different instrument combinations. Interestingly, much of the Spanish piano repertoire of the 19th and early 20th centuries is more familiar transcribed to being played on the guitar and this is certainly the case with the Serenata. This is a movement that dates from the late romantic era when nationalism became an identified as an important trend in composition. The music of composers from countries on the fringes of Europe were appearing in concert programmes including music of Dvorak, Smetana, Grieg, Granados & Albeniz amongst others. In this movement many of characteristic musical sounds of Spain are captured in a score that suggests many images of the country. There is also much figuration and decoration used in Spanish music and these feature in the melodic, accompaniment, harmonic & timbral detail. This movement music was composed and published in the last decade of the 19th century. There were some ambiguities in the source scores available to the music editor who has spent time removing most errors and inconsistencies. It is the phyrgian mode that is features strongly in Spanish music. The structure of the phyrgian scale is S/T-T-T-T-S/T-T-T (S/T = semitone T = tone) Modal shifts from minor to major also feature The realisation plays back at a tempo of 116 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute although there are occasionally speeding ups (marked animando in the score) and slowing downs particularly at the end of phrases. Formally the music has a sectional structure and can be described as being in ABA ternary form. (AABB’A) Spanish music is often dramatic and on occasions invites exaggeration in performance. The extensive melodic range is a particular characteristic of this movement and instrument ranges are often challenging. Close
Tchaikovsky’s Chanson Triste arranged for clarinet quintet comprising 5 x Bb clarinets and bass clarinet. An Eb clarinet can be used to play the cla Show More...
Tchaikovsky’s Chanson Triste arranged for clarinet quintet comprising 5 x Bb clarinets and bass clarinet. An Eb clarinet can be used to play the clarinet in Bb 1 part. The clarinet quintet realisation plays back at 100 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute This is a 5 part arrangement with the option of substituting a clarinet in Eb for the Clarinet in Bb 1 part. Individual parts for the clarinet players are appended to the full score in the pdf download. Accompaniments are in place to provide opportunity for the clarinet in Eb or clarinet in Bb 1 player to practice in an ensemble context. They playback at 96, 98,100, 102 & 104 quarter note or crotchet bpm. In the arrangement there are a number of octave transpositions (upwards) in the bass clarinet part. For instrumentalists this is an excellent piece for improving intonation (aka playing in tune) in an ensemble context. The clarinet is a great ensemble instrument whatever the playing level . The music editor does feel sorry for the status of clarinet 4 because the number 4 doesn’t suggest the difficulty of the part in the arrangement as far as exploring the lower pitch range of the clarinet. One of Tchaikovsky’s most popular pieces composed in 1878 for piano and arranged for clarinet quintet in the original key of G minor. It is a ternary form ABA movement in a reflective melancholy mood. It has a regular phrase structure and the melodic line needs to be played with a singing legato. When performing the music be aware that tempo changes particularly at the end of phrases are appropriate. The music needs to be delivered with expression and a broad range of dynamics. Playing the A minor scale (sounding in G minor) in both the harmonic and melodic forms would be excellent preparation for playing this intermediate level work. Close
Serenade by R. Hoffstetter is a movement from a popular classical string quartet. The arrangement for clarinet quartet marked Andante cantabile includ Show More...
Serenade by R. Hoffstetter is a movement from a popular classical string quartet. The arrangement for clarinet quartet marked Andante cantabile includes a clarinet in Eb, 2 clarinets in Bb and a bass clarinet in the arrangement and sounds in the key of B flat. The PlentyMusic sheet music realisation plays back at 90 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Improve music practice strategies by downloading this sheet music score and accompaniments from PlentyMusic. The music possesses classical beauty and is sustained in its quality and whilst attributed to Haydn is now known to have been composed by Roman Hoffstetter. The melody does sound easy to play although there are challenges in playing music of this era well and musically. In a performance, the articulation of the notes needs to be consistent - the melody is to be played legato with the accompaniments playing staccato or at least detached . A tempo in the range from 90-102 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar is suggested while individual instrument parts are appended to the full score available as a pdf download from the website. The repeats which are not marked in the video score do not play in the realisation or video score. mp3 clarinet accompaniments are available playing at 86, 90, 94, 98 and 102 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The accompaniments feature the clarinet in Bb 2, clarinetin Bb 3 and bass clarinet parts and gives opportunity to the clarinet in Bb 1 player to practice in an ensemble context. A two bar click track sounding on a wood block can be heard at the opening of the accompaniments to establish the tempo. An ideal concert item because the music epitomises so much of classical style although surprisingly not composed by one of the famous and familiar classical composers. The repetitive element in the melodic writing is strong whilst the melody line combines chordal and stepwise shapes. The appoggiaturas do often create dissonance in the melodic line whilst the chromatic harmonic colour add to the music’s appeal and interest. In the PlentyMusic sheet music score pdf available for download the appoggiaturas (leaning notes) have been notated as they are to be played whilst the acciaccaturas (crushed notes) are indicated as ornaments with the appropriate symbol. In the video score all the ornaments are notated to add clarity to what is a frequently a contentious area. The ornaments, acciaccaturas (crushed notes) whi are probably best omitted in the early stages of playing the movement. This is an excellent movement for developing an understanding of performance practice and the understanding of dissonance, harmonic rhythm and other musical elements that feature in compositions from the classical era. One of the best reasons to play classical music is that it is a positive element in giving players an awareness of basic structures and shapes in music. Additionally, it is also one of the best ways of developing a secure performing/playing technique on an instrument. Classical style features elements of contrast particularly with regard to key and dynamics. As there is also a strong repetitive element that requires the music to played with both simplicity and consistency. The melody can be played with a variety of articulations but in the first instance particularly as an ensemble piece a legato approach is suggested. How the melody is shaped and played in the opening section is how the melody should be played for the rest of the movement. Listening to a number of performances of the score the music it is surprising how different interpretations can be particularly in respect to tempo, articulation of the melody line, the range of dynamics used and particularly the interpretation of ornaments whether appoggiaturas or acciaccaturas. Instrumentalists should appreciate that classical music can be interpreted differently and what is indicated on the page particularly with regard to ornamentation, phrasing and articulation are discussion points. Listening to available recordings will give an awareness how differently the same music can be played but appreciate that the music editor has been intent upon producing a score that is both consistent and has clarity. Roman Hoffstetter, the composer of this music, was interestingly a Benedictine monk, strongly influenced by Haydn in his music so much so that this perfect imitation of Haydn’s style has in the past been assimilated into Haydn’s own catalogue. Close
