Mind the Gap

The Welsh Guards Band organised a day to remember when Andrew Marriner, Principal Clarinettist of the London Symphony Orchestra, arrived to put principal players from the top military bands through their  paces …  and not a bearskin in sight!

The Practice Room at Chelsea Barracks is filling up nicely for Andrew Marriner’s masterclass.  He is on great form, chatting away ten to the dozen as he pulls an incredibly battered Buffet Crampon clarinet from its case.  The Welsh Guards Band have pulled out all the stops with the guest list – with representatives drawn from across the Household Division Foot Guards and Cavalry Bands, the Royal Artillery and students from the Royal Military School of Music all hoping to pick up top tips.

As well as being Principal Clarinettist with the LSO Andrew holds regular masterclasses at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy and is currently holding a series of masterclasses for musicians of The New World Symphony Orchestra, based in the South Beach area of Miami. 

After an official welcome from Major David Cresswell, Director of Music of the Welsh Guards Band, it’s down to business.  Andrew introduces himself – it’s the first time that he has taught military musicians – and apologises for the appearance of his clarinet, “a Corgi registered plumber would probably slap a prohibition order on it,” he jokes, and admits that he has been toying with the idea of buying a new one.  On a more serious note he adds “there is a polarisation of military and academy music that amounts almost to a musical apartheid in this country…”

The first ‘volunteer’ of the day is Mike Hernandez, Principal Clarinettist of the Welsh Guards Band.  It’s a lovely, gentle start to the morning as the opening bars of Copland’s clarinet concerto wash over the forty strong audience.  Emily Barker plays cornet and violin in the Welsh Guards Band in addition to her phenomenal talent as a pianist.  She provides an accompaniment displaying tremendous empathy and Andrew leaps forward at the end of the piece to congratulate Mike on his performance, “Great cadenza,” he beams, “it rarely sounds as well in tune as this, especially with the piano.  You made a lovely sound in the opening bars and there were some great top notes in there.” Reminding me more and more of the avuncular  Ken Clarke (politician) with a clarinet, Andrew warms to the theme of the overall sound.  “You need to be a little more embracing of the audience,” he advises.  “Pick a spot at the back of the room and direct your performance there.

Next up is Daryle Lowden, again of the Welsh Guards Band.  He lifts the tempo with the unaccompanied ‘Etudes on themes of Gershwin’ by Paul Harvey.  This virtuosic piece makes huge demands on the soloist, both technically and musically, but Daryle takes it all in his stride and delivers a powerful performance.  Andrew Marriner rushes in with praise, “Well done, Daryle! Brilliant!” he exclaims.  “You double tongued your way out of trouble... the tonguing is ferociously difficult in this piece – and soundwise – don’t stop blowing, always aim to get more air down the instrument.”  There is also advice and a demonstration on articulating the tricky tongued runs, “begin with legato practice at a slow tempo, followed by slow tonguing.”  Andrew shows the way, and Daryle bravely follows.  “He’s got it…” beams Andrew, “practice slowly, and sheer panic will get you up to tempo on the day…”

After a brief pause for coffee, and a chance for musicians to consult guest repairer, David Fingerhut it’s eyes down for the second half.  Ben Woodgate is Principal Clarinettist with the Royal Artillery Band.  He plays the Brahms No.1 Sonata with lovely sound, great dynamics, and real feeling.  Emily accompanies with such ease.  Andrew warms to his task, “great legato over the break, great tone, you obviously have real affinity with the piece,” he enthuses.  He continues, “you have such a natural sense of the phrases, imagine that you are a singer and let the pianissimo carry to the back of the audience. What you are doing is really very good, just maintain that stream of warm air through the instrument – and by the way, can I borrow that reed for tonight? –  I’m doing the Beethoven 2 and 3 tonight with the LSO and my reed’s a mess!”  Brahms is followed by Debussy. Chris Spencer, Principal Clarinettist of the Grenadier Guards Band plays the Premiere Rhapsodie with great style, accompanied again by the wonderful Emily Barker on piano.  The sombre, introspective opening to the piece, written originally for the Paris Conservatoire, is singled out for particular praise from Andrew, “nice beginning, keep the instrument up and project the sound.”

The final piece of the morning is Weber’s Grand Duo Concertant, played here by Paul Harvey, Ex-Band Sergeant Major of the Coldstream Guards Band.  It is a carefully controlled, polished performance that rounds off a morning of varied repertoire.  Andrew comments, “you observed the dynamics so scrupulously, but make sure that the sound travels.  You need to project into the throat notes in the quiet dynamics – try putting your fingers down on them until you find something that resonates…”  Emily takes it all in her stride as Andrew and Paul pick out phrases and re-work them until they sparkle.

With each piece that is played it seems that the gap between the military and the conservatoires closes a little more.  The maxim for military musicians that fast is best, and faster is even better has been completely disproven for the musicians here today, and judging by the turn out, there is a huge appetite for cross over between the two schools of music.  The day to day marching and music for special ceremonial occasions will always be a vital part of the military musicians repertoire, but there is also so much to be learned from their orchestral colleagues – and vice versa, as Andrew demonstrates with a flourish as he clips a march to the end of his clarinet and quick steps around the practice room, “trouble is getting the feet in time with the clarinet…,” he says, persevering.  From the look of things the LSO may not be quite ready to march down the Mall…