Clarke Studies

The Clarke Studies are a series of pedagogical method books written by Herbert L. Clarke for students of cornet, trumpet, clarinet, and other wind instruments published from 1909 to 1915. Initially intended as a 3-volume series of increasing difficulty, the middle volume titled Clarke's Technical Studies (1912) would gain a following independent of the other volumes, becoming "one of the most widely used trumpet method books"[1] and drawing comparisons to the Arban Method.[2] The Technical Studies were preceded by Elementary Studies (1909) and followed by Characteristic Studies (1915), all originally published by L. B. Clarke of Elkhart, Indiana, later passing to Carl Fischer and other publishers. A fourth work published in 1929 called Setting Up Drills, a short collection of 38 exercises in four groups meant to strengthen the lips and be played for half an hour each day, is sometimes considered part of the series.[3]

Clarke Studies
AuthorHerbert L. Clarke
Original titleClarke's Elementary Studies for Cornet; Clarke's Technical Studies for Cornet; Clarke's Characteristic Studies for Cornet
CountryUnited States
SubjectMusical Instruments: Studies and exercises, Cornet music, Trumpet music
Genresheet music
Published1909-1915
PublisherL. B. Clarke, Carl Fischer

Elementary Studies

The first volume, intended for beginners, was published in 1909 as Clarke's Elementary Studies for Cornet. It includes the author's discussions of the positioning of the mouthpiece on the lips, tone, breathing, musical terms, 30 graded lessons, and 116 exercises. The first 35 exercises in the first seven lessons are limited to a single octave, using only whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes. The next 30 exercises in the next seven lessons expand the range on the cornet with a focus on intervals and endurance while introducing eighth notes, dotted notes, and rests rhythmically. This group of lessons ends by introducing accidentals for the chromatic scale. The remaining 51 exercises in the last sixteen lessons introduce sixteenth notes and triplets while visiting all major keys in order of increasing number of flats and sharps. At the end of the thirtieth lesson, there is a 63-measure comprehensive study in 3
4
time ( = 80) and examples of Clarke's exercises for extended range.

Technical Studies

The second volume, published in 1912 as Clarke's Technical Studies for Cornet, includes 190 exercises divided into ten studies with notes from the author suggesting how to practice them. Each of the ten studies concludes with an exercise serving as an étude, except for the ninth study, which lacks an exercise labeled as such, and the tenth study, which ends with two named études. Carl Fischer revised and applied a new copyright to the work in 1984, simplifying the text and adding German and French translations alongside which have been criticized for losing some of the author's philosophy for playing brass.[1]

Études
No.Clarke's TitleTempoWritten KeyMeter
26Etude I = 120C major6
8
45Etude II = 144G major
65Etude III = 138C major
86Etude IV = 144G major
117Etude V = 176C major
132Etude VI = 138C minor
170Etude VII. = 152C major12
8
177Etude VIII = 84C major2
4
189An Irish Ballad = 72F major3
4
190An Old German Folksong = 80B major3
4

Characteristic Studies

The third volume, published in 1915 as Clarke's Characteristic Studies for Cornet, contains a "Treatise on Tongueing" about single, double, and triple tongue technique, 24 characteristic studies inspired by violin methods and progressing alternatingly through the major and minor keys chromatically ascending, and 15 solos. It is considered a parallel to the "Characteristic Studies" portion of Arban's Method.

Characteristic Studies
No.Written KeyTempo MarkingMeterSubdivision
1C majorAllegro moderato = 120Sixteenth note
2A minorAllegro = 1442
4
Sixteenth note
3D majorAllegro risoluto = 13212
8
Eighth note
4B minorAllegro misterioso = 120Sixteenth note
5D majorModerato energico = 723
4
Eighth note
6B minorModerato marcato = 100Eighth note
7E majorAllegro moderato = 1323
4
Sixteenth note
8C minorAllegro agitato = 152Eighth note triplet
9E majorAllegretto giusto = 1042
4
Sixteenth note
10C minorAllegro moderato = 963
4
Sixteenth note triplet
11F majorAllegretto . = 1889
8
Eighth note
12D minorAllegro moderato = 120Sixteenth note triplet
13F majorVivace = 160Sixteenth note
14E minorAllegretto con moto . = 19612
8
Eighth note
15G majorAllegro ma non troppo = 116Sixteenth note
16E minorTempo di Bolero = 1203
4
Sixteenth note triplet and Sixteenth note
17A majorModerato = 112Sixteenth note
18F minorModerato = 92Sixteenth note
19A majorAllegro vivace . = 1526
8
Eighth note
20F minorFurioso = 132Sixteenth note
21B majorModerato = 96Eighth note
22G minorAllegretto = 1083
4
Sixteenth note
23B majorModerato = 1443
4
Eighth note
24G minorAndante cantabile . = 729
8
Eighth note
Solo Pieces
No.Clarke's TitleClarke's SubtitleWritten KeysMeters
1The Bride of the WavesPolka Brillante Concert AdaptationF major and B major and 2
4
2The Harp That Once Thro' Tara's HallsCornet Solo with VariationsF major
3Sounds from the HudsonValse Brillante Concert AdaptationG major, C major, and F major3
4
4From the Shores of the Mighty PacificRondo CapriceC major, G major, and F major and 2
4
5The DébutantéCaprice BrillanteC major and F major and 2
4
6Carnival of VeniceCornet Solo with VariationsF major6
8
7Showers of GoldScherzoF major and B major3
4
and 2
4
8Du Du Liegst Mir Im HerzenCornet Solo with VariationsB major3
4
9The Southern CrossCornet Solo RomantiqueG minor and E major3
4
and 2
4
10Side PartnersF major and B major and 2
4
11Twilight DreamsWaltz IntermezzoF major3
4
12LillianPolka CapriceF major and B major and 2
4
13The Maid of the MistPolkaC major, F major, and B major3
4
and 2
4
14Neptune's CourtG major and C major2
4
and 6
8
15My Love for YouF major

Notes

  1. Purtle, Jeff (6 February 2012). "Clarke's Technical Studies, Then and Now by Jeff Purtle | Purtle.com". Purtle.com archived by web.archive.org. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  2. "Herbert L. Clarke: Technical Studies". OJ's Trumpet Page. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  3. "Clarke Studies (Trumpet Book) by Herbe, J.W. Pepper Sheet Music". J. W. Pepper. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
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