AndrewB,

Here are two excerpts from the Concertino by Chaminade. Hot off the presses. I haven't played this piece in about a year so don't laugh...please....

-Dennis

Excerpt 1 http://www.upload2.net/download2/uDvlSIwAjFMa5eh/chaminade+1.mp3.html

Excerpt 2
http://www.upload2.net/download2/8sOTVdhHm9Xxb5Q/chaminade+2.mp3.html

You are brave, but I did have to laugh at that first clip.

I've been dedicating all my time to the flute for that last couple of weeks in preparation for something and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity to share my rendition of Chaminade.

Hate to upstage you.

http://www.upload2.net/download2/TkjhhOP0eBQjedE/Chaminade.mp3.html





<Added>

Just in case anyone even thinks I was being serious (I hope not!)... this is a joke

Now THAT is brave!! I think that I like that version of Chaminades better! Ha! Ha!!

HAHAHA...I hate the oboi so much. Although played well I can ALMOST keep both of my ears open. That was VERY brave of you. It sounds like you might be down the reed a bit too much, though. Possibly even not enough. If I had an oboi (i love calling it that name!) I would so give you a rendition, but I don't...I'll do clarinet instead!

-Dennis

Glad you liked it. lol.

That is neglect. Haven't touched the thing in like 3 weeks. I have to brush up again as I may be playing it next Thursday. I'll see if I won't put up another recording so you can hear how I reeeaaally sound, after getting my chops back up.

flute? or oboi? which are you performing on?

I really can't get the upload2.net website to work so I can't hear all of your (presumably excellent ) recordings !!! Grrr

Dennis you have great technique, but NOBODY can beat Stephen's sound. Never before have I had to wonder if I was listening to an Oboe or a Kazoo, it brought a tear to my eye.

you guys are ruthless!! Thanks for the compliments! I am sure Stephen is much more adept at classical pieces than I am. Except maybe the Ibert Concerto, Khachaturian Concerto, and Muczynski Sonata...those are the ones I have been working on for a while. I have neglected every other piece in my repertoire to get these commited to playing by memory.

-Dennis
P.S. I am more of a show flutist I believe. I would put on a good concert. I play more celtic, new age flute music. Also, the upload2.net website I don't believe works that well in the UK...that's what was said on here!

I just sight read really well, my only talent. I never really practice pieces except when I was forced to when I decided I had an interest in flute as a major.

I generally play just etudes. I find them challenging and fun once you get them under your fingers, but it depends on whose etudes. Some are just so absolutely unmusical there is no joy in actually getting them down.

Now on the oboe... I was actually able to get the first Telemann Flute Fantasia under my belt, under the force of a private teacher. Oh horror of horrors that was painful. I guess my teacher was tired of me playing through the Barrett so painlessly. It really is quite a nightmarish piece on the oboe when you are on your 3rd month getting re-introduced after an extended break. Since I'm not studying the oboe I kinda just pick it up every now and then and obiously it does not fare well with neglect. You neglect a flute you get fuzzy, you nelgect the oboe you lose muscular strength in your embouchure, the reed becomes harder than all heck, your intonation is shot to heck, and worse you can't really play for terribly long as your embouchure gets quickly fatiqued.

Funny thing about the oboe though is that I do practice long tones, intervals, and scales... but on the flute I hardly ever do and I would rather play music on the oboe rather than etudes.

Oh... It's the oboe I may be playing next Thursday since I was invited to play it with another group.

Very cool Stephen,

I had one pvt teacher on clarinet, and one on flute. Both lasted I think 4 lessons. The clarinet teacher kept saying that I was good but the only way to get better is to spend thousands of dollars on new equipment for my setup. The flute teacher worked on my tone very well, but I think I was ticking her off. I am SOOO not a classical player. I have my own fingerings I use for comfort, and I really don't care to switch. I just got the Methode Complete by Taffanel/Gaubert. It is awesome. If you want great etudes get the second volume. It also has great finger exercises in all sorts of keys.

-Dennis

I've got quite a varied etude collection. I've got the T&G... down to the Klose. That http://www.woodwind.org clarinet forum made the Klose methods sound so wonderful I thought I'd check it out... far too many lower octave ledger lines for my taste! lol

I think that if you looked around you could probably find the "right" teacher for you. Though I don't think you'll never find a flute instructor that will accept your non-standard fingerings while a "make due with what you have" clarinetist are certainly around.

Though even I know that the right barrel, mouthpiece, reed, and ligature combination makes a WORLD of difference that skill cannot make up for (kidding, lol). I spend too much time reading that other forum.

Day one of restorative practice:
http://www.upload2.net/download2/OExrWdnSHluJZNg/oboe+day+1.mp3.html

good job...you come across that you know how to circular breathe. Use it in the Scene form Swan Lake. That piece is a bugger. That's what I am working on right now for Clarinet/Flute Choir.

-Dennis

LOL!!! Wha? You don't like nose breaths?