Ferde Grofe - Grand Canyon Suite
Video
Grand Canyon Suite is on virtually every Bass Clarinet audition in America, where the piece is mostly played. The third movement, On the Trail, depicts the famous mule trains that would take visitors to the bottom of the canyon. There are three
bass clarinet solos, but since the first two are the same, usually only one of them appears on auditions. The final solo is always there. All three are similar, depicting a runaway mule that has to be calmed down. Take a big breath, enter
boldly with a spritely attitude, matching the oboe handoff as much as you can. Don't be a tubby bass clarinet until you reach the "hee-haws" at the bottom. Use extra air to avoid fumbling the break crossing, and start with the 1-and-2 A# making
getting to the F# much easier. Be sure you know your low G (or G# later) voicing to avoid a squawk when coming from the throat F#. I never had a problem with side F# here, because the silence of the staccato provides cover for moving your hand,
but if you do, flipping is just fine - but no extra notes please! Be as funny as you can in the poco rit. and as mule-like as possible.
While the final solo is in Presto, it is only a little faster than the other solos. However, it does have a diminuendo, and four more measures that take a lot of air in an audition. In an orchestra, you can just grab a breath while the rest of
the orchestra plays fff. If you can't make it to the end, in one breath in an audition, breathe quickly before the grace-note, one measure before 13. Play big dynamic differences at the end. I recommend the final A# grace-note be played in the
clarinet register with your low E-flat key. Why risk crossing the break here, Presto, when you're tired and out of air?
Home