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" and drawing comparisons to the Arban Method. 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.
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 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. Études No. Clarke's Title Tempo Written Key Meter 26 Etude I 120 C major 45 Etude II 144 G major 65 Etude III 138 C major 86 Etude IV 144 G major 117 Etude V 176 C major 132 Etude VI 138 C minor 170 Etude VII 152 C major 177 Etude VIII 84 C major 189 An Irish Ballad 72 F major 190 An Old German Folksong 80 B major
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 Key Tempo Marking Meter Subdivision 1 C major Allegro moderato 120 Sixteenth note 2 A minor Allegro 144 Sixteenth note 3 D major Allegro risoluto 132 Eighth note 4 B minor Allegro misterioso 120 Sixteenth note 5 D major Moderato energico 72 Eighth note 6 B minor Moderato marcato 100 Eighth note 7 E major Allegro moderato 132 Sixteenth note 8 C minor Allegro agitato 152 Eighth note triplet 9 E major Allegretto giusto 104 Sixteenth note 10 C minor Allegro moderato 96 Sixteenth note triplet 11 F major Allegretto 188 Eighth note 12 D minor Allegro moderato 120 Sixteenth note triplet 13 F major Vivace 160 Sixteenth note 14 E minor Allegretto con moto 196 Eighth note 15 G major Allegro ma non troppo 116 Sixteenth note 16 E minor Tempo di Bolero 120 Sixteenth note triplet and Sixteenth note 17 A major Moderato 112 Sixteenth note 18 F minor Moderato 92 Sixteenth note 19 A major Allegro vivace 152 Eighth note 20 F minor Furioso 132 Sixteenth note 21 B major Moderato 96 Eighth note 22 G minor Allegretto 108 Sixteenth note 23 B major Moderato 144 Eighth note 24 G minor Andante cantabile 72 Eighth note
Solo Pieces No. Clarke's Title Clarke's Subtitle Written Keys Meters 1 The Bride of the Waves Polka Brillante Concert Adaptation F major and B major and 2 The Harp That Once Thro' Tara's Halls Cornet Solo with Variations F major 3 Sounds from the Hudson Valse Brillante Concert Adaptation G major, C major, and F major 4 From the Shores of the Mighty Pacific Rondo Caprice C major, G major, and F major and 5 The Débutanté Caprice Brillante C major and F major and 6 Carnival of Venice Cornet Solo with Variations F major 7 Showers of Gold Scherzo F major and B major and 8 Du Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen Cornet Solo with Variations B major 9 The Southern Cross Cornet Solo Romantique G minor and E major and 10 Side Partners F major and B major and 11 Twilight Dreams Waltz Intermezzo F major 12 Lillian Polka Caprice F major and B major and 13 The Maid of the Mist Polka C major, F major, and B major and 14 Neptune's Court G major and C major and 15 My Love for You F major
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