Description
Balkan Music from the Danube. Instruments in B♭ and Backing Tracks
Ref
C730
Categories
Brass
,
Clarinet
,
Clifton Edition
,
Instrumental Music
,
Publishers
,
Saxophone
,
Trumpet & Cornet
,
Woodwind
By
Gundula Stojanova Gruen
I chose a reverse journey, starting in Ukraine and Eastern Romania, near the Danube Delta where the Danube meets the Black Sea, and then traveling westward. The pieces are presented individually, as each has unique features and performance practices. Some pieces are written for a single voice, whilst others have up to three voices. I had to juggle the widely varying ranges of B♭ instruments to ensure the music could be played by all of them. For example, clarinets can make use of the dark and mystic sound of their lower register, whilst trumpets can comfortably play a higher version. To offer flexibility, I have notated both higher and lower versions on a duet stave or provided separate arrangements in each version. Further details can be found in the
Performance Notes
below each piece.
Recordings of each piece accompany this book, and are available as downloadable MP3s from
. The recordings closely follow the notation; however, some pieces cannot be fully captured by Western classical notation, and others require flexibility in phrasing and ornamentation. More details are provided in the Performance Notes for each piece, with the recordings serving as the ultimate guide.
In addition, a range of free video tutorials, along with other informational and listening materials, are available here
. Regular jam sessions and workshops, both online and in person, will provide opportunities for the music to be shared, played together and kept alive through collective participation. All updates can be found at
.
The chords are transposed for B flat instruments. However, there is a version of this book for Instruments in C (Flute, Violin, Oboe, Accordion etc.). To play along with a guitar for example, you will need this book for the ‘concert pitch’ chord symbols.
