About

The aim of this game for clarinet and electronics is to play each fundamental pitch and get the overtones in ascending and descending order using the same fingering. Start with the C# fundamental, then the Bb, the G and finally the low E. Try to improve your accuracy and finish the game faster, it will happen with practice.

For a simpler version, try to just get the fundamental and the first two overtones for each fingering. Using the register key can help if it is too difficult at first. Practice makes perfect!

To make sure the audio settings on your computer are correct, click the ‘Open Audio Status Window’ button. If you are having issues with your audio, check your settings are similar to the ones in the screen shot below. On the next page are the overtones for each fundamental pitch notated on a stave. Can you play all of the overtones for each note?

Download software (version 10) and the game instructions

Clarinet Overtones Game Instructions .jpg

Technique Explanation & Demonstration

Clarinet Overtones - The clarinet has mostly odd numbered partials in the harmonic series giving the clarinet it's unique timbre.

Activities - Additional Listening

Ablauf by Magnus Lindberg for clarinet and two bass drums. :Clarinet overtones are used to great dramatic effect in the multiphonics at the beginning of this piece.

About Amanda

Amanda Cole is a composer of instrumental and electronic New Music. Her compositions feature microtonal structures, interference beats and fusions of electronic and acoustic timbres. She writes her own interactive software that she uses in her solo performance practice and in collaboration with other artists for New Media projects. Amanda has a Bachelor of Music (Hons.1) and a PhD in Composition from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She is currently a sessional lecturer in composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Sydney University.

About Jason

Jason Noble is one of Australia’s most versatile clarinettists. As a core member of Ensemble Offspring for over 15 years, Jason has performed contemporary new music at festivals from Warsaw to London, Shanghai to Kabul, and around Australia, working largely with living composers. He has toured internationally as part of the live musical entourage for The Shaun Parker Dance Company’s acclaimed production, AM I and has jointly received “Best Performance” awards with Ensemble Offspring at the APRA/AMC Art Music Awards. Having been an invited guest teacher and performer over two winter academies at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Jason continues to support the school through fundraising and skype lessons. Similarly, he maintains close ties with the Tiwi Strong Women's Group, Ngarukuruwala, with whom he has appeared at festivals and performed on their two albums.

https://www.jasonnoble-clarinettist.com/