Expert: Pat G - 9/23/2010

Question
 I play clarinet and have worked for years to get a good
tone.  I would like to make a CD using the best classical
melodies.  Maybe Wagner or one of those.  Maybe just a
passage that's beautiful.
       I think a good clarinet with a wide bore and good vibrato would sound good.   Do you have any suggestions
on some good melodies?
          Or where I can look?

                Thanks,  

Answer
Hello, Dick,

As you are undoubtedly aware, it is common for people to perform works on one instrument that were originally written for another. This actually started in Bach's time (perhaps earlier). For example, Bach took string quartets by Vivaldi and edited them for organ. He even wrote a piece where he didn't specify instruments, and people play it on whatever instruments they want. That piece is called Art of the Fugue. For awhile, the tendency to do this seemed to die down, but recently has been revised.

I'd suggest that you play whatever you want, that is playable on the clarinet. Get the sheet music and try it out. Another thing you can do is look at recordings of clarinet artists, and see what they have played. You can also reasonably look at what saxophone players have performed. Branford Marsalis made a recording of a number of different pieces on sax that were originally composed for other instruments. Pieces for French horn might also work. And yes, Wagner wrote some good melodies for French horn. There is also one piece in Midsummer Night's Dream that was written for French Horn, and would sound nice on clarinet. Debussy wrote some lovely melodic music that would probably work. Go poke around in the music section on amazon.com and see what you can find. And in fact, some pieces for a solo stringed instrument might work. If you'd like to look at something a little more unusual, there are a few concertos for alphorn that might work. It all depends on whether or not it fits in the range, and if not, you may be able to transpose some notes up or down an octave, depending on what that does to the melody line. Take a look at the music for solo instruments and see what you can come up with. Become familiar with the literature. Play what you feel like playing.

I don't personally have a feel for what would be easy or difficult on the clarinet, since I have never played clarinet. But really, if you like it, and it will fit on the clarinet, and you have the necessary skill, play it.

Don't know how much this helps, but hopefully it helps somewhat. You're welcome.