Difficulty? Clarinet/Oboe Part in Handel's Messiah?

Question

I'm considering joining a community orchestra, and the current project is Handel's Messiah. I'd be playing clarinet. 

I'm a little bit nervous about the skill level that might be required. If they're using the original instrumentation (not sure), I'd be playing the transposed oboe part. If the Mozart arrangement, there's a clarinet part. Of course, in a community orchestra, I wouldn't be expected to be brilliant. I just want to make sure I'm not getting into something I have no chance of being able to play. 

I'm a high school intermediate clarinet player at best, but I play the piano professionally (and therefore, read well).

ThinkAboutIt · Accepted Answer

I'm an oboe major in music school, but the first time I played the part to it was when I was in 9th grade- It sounds a lot more intimidating than it looks and it mirrors a lot of the voice parts. I seriously wouldn't worry about ti too much.

Anonymous · Answer

Perhaps she was covering Baroque music in class. Handel was an important composer of that period. A lot of what was written at that time was written to be used in church, so it will have some Christian overtones. It is a part of history. I'm guessing she sang the Hallelujah Chorus since that's probably the most famous part from it. Did she also tell about the tradition behind it? If all this was included in the lesson, my guess would be it was just a music appreciation thing.

Thomas E · Answer

GO FOR IT! You'll thank yourself forever. You can do it!

Difficulty? Clarinet/Oboe Part in Handel's Messiah?

Related Questions

Trending Questions