A New Transcription and Performance Interpretation of J.S. Bach's Chromatic Fantasy BWV 903 for Unaccompanied Clarinet Thomas A
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University of Connecticut OpenCommons@UConn Doctoral Dissertations University of Connecticut Graduate School 5-2-2014 A New Transcription and Performance Interpretation of J.S. Bach's Chromatic Fantasy BWV 903 for Unaccompanied Clarinet Thomas A. Labadorf University of Connecticut - Storrs, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations Recommended Citation Labadorf, Thomas A., "A New Transcription and Performance Interpretation of J.S. Bach's Chromatic Fantasy BWV 903 for Unaccompanied Clarinet" (2014). Doctoral Dissertations. 332. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations/332 A New Transcription and Performance Interpretation of J.S. Bach’s Chromatic Fantasy BWV 903 for Unaccompanied Clarinet Thomas A. Labadorf, D. M. A. University of Connecticut, 2014 A new transcription of Bach’s Chromatic Fantasy is presented to offset limitations of previous transcriptions by other editors. Certain shortcomings of the clarinet are addressed which add to the difficulty of creating an effective transcription for performance: the inability to sustain more than one note at a time, phrase length limited by breath capacity, and a limited pitch range. The clarinet, however, offers qualities not available to the keyboard that can serve to mitigate these shortcomings: voice-like legato to perform sweeping scalar and arpeggiated gestures, the increased ability to sustain melodic lines, use of dynamics to emphasize phrase shapes and highlight background melodies, and the ability to perform large leaps easily. A unique realization of the arpeggiated section takes advantage of the clarinet’s distinctive registers and references early treatises for an authentic wind instrument approach. A linear analysis, prepared by the author, serves as a basis for making decisions on phrase and dynamic placement. A comparison of various keyboard editions and available analyses provides essential performance practice references in order to produce as authentic a representation of the work as possible. Unique to this transcription is the graphic layout of the single staff, providing a synthesis between standard clarinet notation and the keyboard grand staff. By altering stem directions, and by grouping notes with broken beams and slurs, this version gives the clarinetist a clearer means of visualizing and interpreting the structural content of the original work. The complete transcription is included as an appendix. A New Transcription and Performance Interpretation of J.S. Bach’s Chromatic Fantasy BWV 903 for Unaccompanied Clarinet Thomas A. Labadorf B. M., The Eastman School of Music, 1976 M. M., University of Connecticut, 1995 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Connecticut 2014 Copyright by Thomas A. Labadorf 2014 ii APPROVAL PAGE Doctor of Musical Arts Dissertation A New Transcription and Performance Interpretation of J.S. Bach’s Chromatic Fantasy BWV 903 for Unaccompanied Clarinet Presented by Thomas A. Labadorf, B. M., M. M. Major advisor Richard Bass Associate advisor Peter Kaminsky Associate advisor Louis Hanzlik University of Connecticut 2014 iii Acknowledgements Everyone I have met in my life’s journey through music has contributed to this dissertation in one way or another, but the greatest thanks go the following for their most direct influence, for without them, this project would not have been completed. • To Stanley Hasty, my teacher at the Eastman School of Music, for introducing me to the wonders of Bach phrasing through the study of the Bach Cello Suites transcribed for clarinet. • To Kenny Grant, who introduced me to Mr. Hasty’s outstanding transcription for clarinet of the Chromatic Fantasy. • Dr. Richard Bass, my major advisor, who encouraged me to complete this dissertation, and who dedicated many hours of expert proofreading of my less- than-inspiring writing style. • And last, but certainly not least, to my wife, Kathy, who showed confidence in my abilities as a writer during my weakest moments. And her outstanding abilities as a research librarian exposed several resources that would have otherwise remained hidden from this project. iv Contents Title page i Copyright page ii Approval page iii Acknowledgements iv Table of contents v List of examples vii List of tables ix Chapter 1. The Place of the Chromatic Fantasy in the Solo Clarinet Repertory ............................. 1 2. Review of Keyboard Editions and Analyses ............................................................... 10 Keyboard Editions ............................................................................................... 11 Early Manuscripts ............................................................................................... 14 Urtext editions ...................................................................................................... 15 Interpretive Editions ............................................................................................. 16 Analytic Essays .................................................................................................... 18 3. Analysis of the Chromatic Fantasy .............................................................................. 26 Formal Analysis ................................................................................................... 26 Linear Analysis .................................................................................................... 29 v Chapter Page 4. Transcription Challenges and Solutions ...................................................................... 37 Pitch and Rhythm Confirmation .......................................................................... 38 Page Layout and Engraving Considerations ........................................................ 45 Applied Clarinet Techniques ............................................................................... 64 Special Considerations ......................................................................................... 68 5. Performance Considerations ........................................................................................ 86 Toccata Section .................................................................................................... 87 Arpeggio Section ................................................................................................. 88 Recitative Section ................................................................................................ 89 Acoustical Setting ................................................................................................ 90 Summary .............................................................................................................. 90 Appendix: Bach-Labadorf, Chromatic Fantasy .............................................................. 92 References ........................................................................................................................ 97 vi Examples Example 1.1 Bach, Chromatic Fantasy. Comparison of a) Langenus and b) Hasty transcriptions. 5 1.2 Bach, Chromatic Fantasy, measures 10 through 11 comparing transcriptions of a) Naumann edition, b) Langenus, c) Hasty, and d) Labadorf . ............................. 8 3.1 Bach, Chromatic Fantasy. Formal design. ................................................................ 28 3.2. Bach, Chromatic Fantasy, Toccata analytical sketch. .............................................. 30 3.3. Bach, Chromatic Fantasy, Arpeggio Analytical Sketch. .......................................... 31 3.4. Bach, Chromatic Fantasy, Recitative Analytical sketch. ......................................... 33 3.5. Bach, Chromatic Fantasy, motivic analysis, measure 1 – 2. .................................... 34 3.6. Bach, Chromatic Fantasy, Coda analytical sketch. .................................................. 35 4.1. Bach, Chromatic Fantasy, edited by Naumann and Schenker, measures 34 – 38. .. 41 4.2. Bach-Labadorf, Chromatic Fantasy. Measures 21-25. ............................................. 47 4.3. Bach-Labadorf, Chromatic Fantasy. Measures 75-79. ............................................. 48 4.4. Bach-Labadorf, Chromatic Fantasy. Measures 3-6.. ................................................ 49 4.5. Bach-Labadorf, Chromatic Fantasy. Recitative, measures 49-59.. .......................... 50 4.6. Chord transcription in the same octave, measure 72.. .............................................. 52 4.7. 4.7. Octave transposition of chord, melody in original octave. ................................ 53 4.8. Bass note transposed, chord outer voices reduced by an octave, measure 51. ......... 53 vii Example 4.9. Revoiced chords from open to closed position. ........................................................ 54 4.10. Revoiced chord omitting pitches. ........................................................................... 55 4.11. 4.11. Polyphonic transfer, measures 52-4 and 58-9. ............................................... 56 4.12. 4.12. Bach, Chromatic Fantasy. Octave displacement solution, measure 31. ........ 58 4.13. Bach, Chromatic Fantasy. Measures 52-54. ........................................................... 63 4.14. Parenthetical hairpin dynamics, measure 34. .......................................................... 64 4.15. Bach-Labadorf, Chromatic Fantasy. Measure19-20. ............................................. 66 4.16. Bach-Labadorf, Chromatic