Stockhausen concerts and classes for clarinettists and others.

Clarinettists have reason to be very happy with the development of their repertoire in de 20th century, as it had a previously unseen growth.

One of the main figures of post war new music has been Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007). This often controversial composer has enriched clarinet literature with an unprecedented number of works for clarinet, bassethorn and bass clarinet, especially after 1974.

These sometimes demanding pieces, often with theatrical elements, require a specific approach and way of playing, easily underestimated. Stockhausen was well aware of this and started coaching a new generation of players in the 1980’s, in order to pass this tradition of interpretation on to others.

In spite of Stockhausen’s compositions having the reputation of being difficult and intellectual (if not quasi-religious), to play, watch and listen to them is generally great fun, and very satisfying to work on - if done well.

Because the music calls on many apects of performing (e.g. fysical and mental attitude on stage, memory, presentation, awareness of the structure of the music, disciplin) the leaning process has a beneficial influence on performing traditional music too.

This series of concerts and courses offers the possibility to watch, listen, study and rehearse a number of Stockhausen’s works with Michel Marang, a clarinettist who worked with the composer since 1986 and performed his music hundreds of times worldwide.

The course can have the character of an introductory lecture and concert, but eventually may result in seminars over a longer stretch of time, as much as needed to bring specific works on concert level.

If students decide to pick a piece and work on it, they can be coached in different stages of the proces, either individually or, preferably, in classes. In advance, advices can be taken on what works are best to start with, depending on level and intentions of the player.

Continue: photo, video, photo, scores

Underneath some photo material from Marang’s performances of Harlekin, Tierkreis, Laub und Regen and Michael’s reise. Click here for a short video fragment of Michael’s Reise.

Screenshots of some pages of four keyworks:

In Freundschaft:

Harlekin:

Tierkreis:

Amour (the only one without theatrical elements):

A choice of the scores for clarinet you’ll find here; in addition there’s many more clarinetmusic to be found in smaller ensembles, mostly part of the opera “Licht”. Available at Stockhausen-Verlag

Laub und Regen, for clarinet and viola (from Herbstmusik, 1974).

Tierkreis, for clarinet and piano, or arranged by the player (1974)

Harlekin, for solo clarinet (1975)

Der kleine Harlekin, for solo clarinet (1975)

Amour, for solo clarinet (1976)

For bass clarinet and electronics (1977)

In Freundschaft, for clarinet solo (1977)

Cadenzas for the Mozart Concerto (1978)

Mission und Himmerlfahrt, for bassethorn and trumpet (1978)

Harmonieën, for bass clarinet (2006)

Knabenduett, for two clarinets (1980)

Traumformel, for bassethorn solo (1981)

Xi, for basset horn (1986)

Klarinette, from Orchesterfinalisten (1996)