- In the recapitulation, change the atmosphere by playing in a whispering pianissimo, where the narrower range of notes creates a more gentle impression
- Tempo is always in flux; it is important to maintain an accurate sense of tempo while keeping the concept of plus-minus zero in mind as you musically shape the movement
- When changing expression, be aware of the preparation before each beat—think through all the information before playing the next note, and take slightly longer rests to secure time for the transition
- Maintain balance between upper and lower notes by keeping the melodic line in focus, playing as if managing two separate layers simultaneously to avoid an overly loud sound
In clarinet performance, refining your tone is an essential element for enhancing expressiveness. In the second part of Rose 32 Etudes No. 7, you can learn various techniques for enriching your clarinet tone, including atmospheric changes in the recapitulation, tempo movement, and expressive variation. Notably, while the opening theme was marked piano, the recapitulation is marked pianissimo, and the narrower range of notes creates a more gentle and peaceful impression. In clarinet performance, being conscious of these atmospheric changes adds depth to the music and results in a performance that truly communicates with the listener. Here, we will explain the specific steps for refining your clarinet tone.
Steps to Refine Your Tone
- Change the atmosphere in the recapitulation: In the recapitulation, while the opening theme was marked piano, it is now pianissimo, so change your clarinet tone to a whispering quality. In the latter half of the recapitulation, the narrower range of notes creates a more gentle and peaceful impression, so it is important to be conscious of this atmospheric change in your clarinet performance.
- Be conscious of tempo plus-minus zero: In clarinet performance, tempo is always in flux. The key to playing musically is to maintain an accurate sense of tempo while constantly fluctuating within the framework of plus-minus zero. For example, if a forte passage raises the tension and a breath becomes longer, you can enter the next note with a slight delay and then recover that time to return to plus-minus zero. In clarinet performance, this approach to tempo movement greatly influences the quality of your tone.
- Practice the concept of preparation before each beat: When changing expression, be aware of preparation before each beat. A good conductor does not try to change things after giving the downbeat—they already understand what expression they want before the beat, which is why the orchestra can respond. Similarly in clarinet performance, it is important to think through all the information before playing the next note. When making a completely different expression, such as shifting from a minor passage to a piano passage, taking a slightly longer rest beforehand secures the time needed to change your expression. If you proceed strictly on time, you may change the volume, but the tonal expression will not change—this timing is crucial for refining your clarinet tone.
- Handle turns appropriately: When fast notes occur in succession, processing them as turns in a quintuplet-like shape can be effective in clarinet performance. When three fast notes appear in a row, it is common for the intermediate notes to not be fully articulated because the tempo is too fast, so it is important to choose a tempo at which every note can be clearly heard. In clarinet performance, slowing down slightly is perfectly acceptable, and ensuring that every note is audible is essential for refining your tone.
- Maintain balance by keeping the melodic line in focus: In clarinet performance, it is important to be conscious of the balance between upper and lower notes. While the lower notes continue throughout, if the lower and upper notes are played at the same volume, the sound becomes too loud. In clarinet performance, keep the upper melodic line clearly in focus and approach the lower notes as if they are a separate layer, playing with the sensation of managing two layers simultaneously. This allows your clarinet tone to be refined and enables musical expression.
- Be conscious of phrase endings with an extra flourish: In clarinet performance, being conscious of how you end phrases adds depth to your tone. In Japanese poetic terms, this is similar to the concept of jiamari—an extra-syllabic flourish. While you could end at a certain point, when an ornamental addition follows, gracefully easing the tempo in your clarinet performance creates an elegant impression. This awareness of phrase endings is also important for refining your clarinet tone.
Refining your clarinet tone requires awareness of tempo movement and expressive variation. By practicing these steps—changing the atmosphere in the recapitulation, applying the concept of tempo plus-minus zero, preparing before each beat, handling turns appropriately, maintaining melodic balance, and ending phrases with an extra flourish—you can achieve a richer and more refined clarinet tone. In particular, tempo is always in flux, and maintaining an accurate sense of tempo while being conscious of plus-minus zero is the key to playing musically. In clarinet performance, practicing with a metronome is for ensuring your fingers move without difficulty; to play musically, you must move the tempo. Additionally, when changing expression, being aware of preparation before each beat and taking slightly longer rests to secure time for the transition is essential for refining your clarinet tone. By practicing these steps, your clarinet performance will become more musical and expressive.
