Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherezade

CLARIFICATION: if it were me, I wouldn't print the second page of the Scheherezade excerpts, just the first and third. Would be easier on the trees for you to memorize the first note from page two, the F-sharp, which ends the cadenza that is assigned. . The first excerpt is from the second movement, and the second excerpt is from the fourth movement.

SECOND MOVEMENT CADENZA:

Tempo and dynamic pacing: I like to make each of these three phrases sound louder than the previous, and have more dramatic tempo changes. I underplay the first one a little bit. I accent the first three notes more in the second and do a bit of decresc., play pretty fast in the second. Then in the third, I do as much taper as I can and really take my time building the speed on the last run.

Ending each phrase: in the orchestra, the clarinetist hands off the responsibility to the conductor at the end of each phrase, so figure out a way to play the ritard that is clear for the conductor. In the first two phrases, the last three notes (C - B-flat - A) are often played quite slow. In the last phrase, consider slowing down the last nine notes, the last three triplets, dramatically.

This is a popular and traditional orchestra piece...I suggest listening to a few different recordings to hear how other clarinetists have interpreted this.

LAST MOVEMENT EXCERPT:

Also on A clarinet if you have one.

This excerpt is about evenness of technique, and phrasing in a way that shows the downbeats as well as the overall contour.

PHRASING: For the first eight measures, one way to play it is cresc. for two measures, decresc for two measures (do this twice). In m. 9-16, continue the same dynamics as printed. Another way to consider the first eight measures relates to the rhythm and sound of the underlying chords in the strings, you might also consider three measure crescendo and one measure diminuendo. Listen to a recording or two and do what seems best to you.

TECHNIQUE: Practice slowly, use your practice techniques to get the evenness happening. Concert tempo is in the 80s or 90s for the measure.

PROFESSIONALISM: Practice picking up the clarinet and playing this without practicing it first: see if you can get it the first time. Practice this well in advance of audition day.