About Carl Maria von Weber

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)

• German composer, conductor, pianist
• Composed 4 solo clarinet pieces; 2 clarinet concerto, 1 concertino and 1 concertante with piano.
• One of significant early Romantic composer
• Contributed to Develop Romantic opera in Germany (Der freischütz is first German "nationalist" opera and there is big clarinet solo in the overture!) Check it now! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6CJRvUW_Ew

!!!!Remember!!!! 

  Always You MUST know these question
- When did composer compose?

- Where did composer come from?

- Why did composer compose?

- How was the social and composer's background?

History of Clarinet

Invented around late 17th century           

          this is how was the early clarinet**

An earlier name was chalumeau, the first single reed instrument.

Johann Christoph Denner is instrument maker from Germany

and he invented the clarinet between the years 1690-1707

Why am I mentioning history of clarinet?

After the clarinet has been invented, most classical period composers had started to use clarinet in their music. Especially Mozart really liked clarinet and he composed Clarinet concerto in 1791 for clarinetist Anton stadler. After Mozart died, many late classical and romantic composers used clarinet in the symphony and chamber music.

This is my favourite Mozart clarinetconcerto, perform by Martin Frost**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVXFONkLPok

Therefore, you are not able to find such a clarinet instrument in Baroque and early classical era. Authentically we don't have piece of Bach, Handel and Haydn etc.

Clarinet Family

Do you know what is Clarinet family? O.o??

The Bb clarinet is most well-know and common clarinet!
BUT there are different size and key of clarinet!

 

The smallest Eb - this clarinet produce very high register!

 

A clarinet looks like Bb but it is slightly longer and produce lower register than Bb

 (if you want to play in orchestra or Mozart clarinet concerto, you MUST have one!)

 

The low clarinet family Alto, Bass, Contra-Alto and Contrabass.

( Alto and Bass is quite common in the orchestra and Contra-Alto and Contrabass is been rarely playing for concert band!)

 



 

 

DO YOU KNOW?

Actually there was C clarinet for classical period orchestra music. As time goes by C clarinet was rarely using because the quality of tone and intonation is not stable the instrument itself!

Recommendation of MOUTHPIECE and REED

Which Mouthpiece and Reed are you using?
According to which mouthpiece and reed you use, your sounds will change and you may feel to blow comfortable or not!
BE CONSIDER WHICH MOUTHPIECE AND REED YOU ARE GOING TO USE!


I am currently using Vandoren mouthpiece CL4

***Highly recommend***
I have tried Vandoren M30, B40, B45 and another brand MORGAN
CL4 is quite new serise and I feel that it is very easy to blow and make a good sounds especially high register! YOU SHOULD TRY!

and Vandoren reed V12 31/2

**Tips
I do not recommend to use different brand both of mouthpiece and reed. Otherwise you will struggle to find good and suitable reed for the mouthpiece.

There are three series of reed which are ORIGINAL,V12 and V16.

I recommend ORIGINAL for beginners. You will make sound easier!
and V12 and V16 is quite thick compared with original BUT the sound will be warmer and rich. BUT if the reed is too thick, it will be very hard to sustain the note and very tired!