Clarinet soulful and playful
The new booklet with klezmer music by Joachim Johow contains 16 original compositions of varying degrees of difficulty.
New Klezmer Tunes is already the third volume of klezmer pieces for clarinet by Joachim Johow, born in Berlin in 1952. In this collection, consisting of 16 original compositions, he refers to the tradition of Jewish itinerant musicians who played at weddings and other festivities and combines the joy of making music with everyday life in the pieces. This can be seen in pictorial titles such as In the morning in the alley, At the fair, Worries, In the café, In the evening etc.
The pieces are of varying degrees of difficulty. Some have a relatively easy range and rhythm, others are in the medium level of difficulty with more demanding rhythms. Many pieces only use the low and middle clarinet range up to a maximum of a three-note C.
As in his earlier compositions, Johow juxtaposes soulful, slow and mostly minor-key melodies with fast, dance-like and playful pieces. The composer uses different minor-key variations and plays with the expressive possibilities of the excessive second leap. Some ornaments such as trills, bounces and suggestions are already present in the musical text, but there is additional scope for personal interpretation.
The edition published by Schott in the World Music series consists of the clarinet part and a piano accompaniment. In addition, audio files of all pieces, each with a complete recording as well as just the accompaniment, can be downloaded with a code or used free of charge on streaming portals. The recordings are well cared for and musically played, although they could also be arranged a little more freely to suit the style of music in order to provide pupils with further ideas for interpretation. The piano accompaniments for most of the pieces can also be played well by piano learners (or clarinet teachers). In addition, the harmonies are also given for all pieces.
The New Klezmer Tunes are well suited as pieces to enrich lessons as well as for student concerts or other performances.
Joachim Johow: New Klezmer Tunes, 16 Pieces for Clarinet, ED 23389, € 20.50, Schott, Mainz
