Well, why not dance unto the glory of God? Music is a sensual thing too, you know. (Sensual- pertaining to the senses. Music relates to the sense of hearing.)
sincerely, Rachel (who will continue to write and play whatever music she damn well feels like, because she believes that anyone who created the universe won`t have such low self-esteem that they feel threatened by music with a backbeat.)

a good piece i played when i was a junior was "sonate" or "the moonlight sonata". to get it, go to http://www.8notes.com/school/scores/clarinet/moonlight_sonata1.gif

One of my favorite arrangements is "Six Studies in English Folk Song"

It`s not technically difficult, but more of a tone and expression challenge. It can sound really nice when well played.

Jen, if you`re still looking for a good piece, you may want to check out the Five Bagatelles by Gerald Finzi. It`s a newer peice (written in 1941), but I`m pretty sure fits into "classical or old hymns". In fact, two of the movements are based on hymns (3 and 4), but I don`t know which hymns they are. Suffice to say they are hymn-like in nature. The second movement is absolutely beautiful. The fifth is the only really challenging one technically, but so worth it. Try and find a recording of it, I think you`ll like it. The whole thing is 14-15 minutes long.

Rachel,

I don`t know why you`re being offended. I thought I made it clear that I have no problem with people who play other types of music. It`s up to you. I find it to be what the Bible teaches, but if you don`t see it that way, then by all means, play what you think God is pleased with.

The main reason is that music with a backbeat tends to be sensual in a way other than hearing. But, if you don`t see it that way, then continue playing what you want. It`s not up to me, and I`m not trying to force my beliefs on to you. All I was doing was answering a question. If I came through as trying to force my beliefs, then I`m sorry. That truly was not my intention.

Jen

Thank you, MuffinMan, Andy, and John. (I hope I got your names correct) I will look into those when I can. I appreciate your help. Thank you again,
Jen

I wasn`t offended, just trying to get my point of view across.
Let`s just agree to disagree on this, ok?

Jen,

Have you heard John Coltrane`s A Love Supreme or Duke Ellington`s Sacred Concert? Both are religious JAZZ works with the emphasis falling on those evil second and fourth beats.

Well, I don`t know if you will find this kind of music offensive or whatever, but I encourage you to look into the Crussell Variations on a Swedish Air which is a very nice piece, written about the time of Mozart. It is a really fun piece to play. Other suggestions?: Well, it depends on you level of proficiency, but the Weber Concertino, the third movement of Weber`s Grand Duo Concertante, the Hindemith Sonata, Poulenc`s Sonata, the Heaton-Smith Concerto, the Beer Concerto.... the list goes on. If you or anyone else wants some info on repertoire, don`t hesitate to e-mail me, as I probably will not come back to this board. I am pretty well versed on clarinet repertoire AND the Bible (for this post!).

I don`t know what you mean by emphasis on the 2 and 4 beats. Hardly any "classical" music has emphasis on the 2 and four beats, mainly on the downbeat. Furthermore, music that you want to play, the Mozart concerto, Weber`s concerti, any music written during the 18th century in the meter of 3/4, was made for dancing, and it is important to remember that dancing a waltz was considered promiscuous at one time, so don`t let the feel of classical music get to you. If you would prefer not to play music because that`s what you think God would want, then so be it. But it is also important to remember that if God didn`t want us to listen to music that put emphasis on the offbeats, then why would He have let us create it? Contemporary music (that which you seem to be isolating out) anymore doesn`t even have a defined beat so to say that it promotes sensual desires is ludicrous...dancing to it or even thinking about promiscuity is nearly impossible! I`d love to see anyone dance to the Corigliano Clarinet Concerto...some might call that kind of dancing amazing...I`d call it CRAZY!

im not sure i understand the whole religious aspect of this, but try Introduction, Theme and Variations. Its not too hard, and its wicked fun. I played that as a freshmen. I am currently working on the Second Concerto for B flat by Weber. Its very classical, if thats what you are looking for.

Rachel,

Alright, I agree to disagree. Especially considering the nature of the forum.

Others,

Thank you for your replies. I`ll check them out whenever I get time.

Ok People I think what insturment you should try it is called the Piano have you heard of that well I think you have ...Anyways it is the bomb and yeah I think Alyssa is right Piano you have to hit the right key . got that.

Sure, I will give you passages relevant to this issue as soon as I get time from this homework. It is so overwhelming. I`ll e-mail you the passages when I do get time. I hope I don`t take forever to get back, but 1:30 a.m. nights are not quite agreeable when the only reason one is up is because of hw.

Thank you for the compliment, as well.

I`ve found some good solos but im not quite sure if either of the two i have in mind are quite in your catigore of clasical and there definatly not religous in any way but ill put them here any way because these are two of my favorites i dont know your abilites or if you have played them before but here they are:

1) Andante and Finale for Bb instruments of any kind on the score it does not specifie what kind of Bb instrument and im sure you know who it is by george gershwin

2) this is a two peace movement movement 1 is Albulmleaf movement 2 is Tarantella this is composed by max reger and edited by eric simon

im not sure if to you or anyone eles if these would be considered hard to your standereds but i highly dought it ^_^

cOOL I play clarinet and violin too!!! And there is going to be the same thing in my school too, I`m doing Hungarian Dance and Turkish March you should check thoose only if you have a lot of expierence