Dick Cheatham - Clarinetist

[srichards78108]

Awesome tone....I could feel the connection between your spirit and our Lord...so full of soul. Thank you for blessing all who view and listen with this time of worship with our great God..

[drdick524]

Sorry andreasrothe, Sunday, I performed at a church prior to a book signing for my latest book, and unintentionally sold out the remainder of my CD's.

[andreasrothe61]

Hi Dick,

your clarinet sounds great!!

I am a clarinetist from Germany. I played "your song" on my clarinet for my father. He was so impressed and wants me to play this song on his funeral, although he is a 77 year old man in a good shape. How can I get your cd "A Preacher Plays:Beethoven to Bourbon Street."

Best wishes, Andreas

[drdick524]

Andreas, Thank you for your gracious comment. I hope you will not be playing this tune for your father's service for quite some time.

I made the cd to satisfy some friends with the understanding that all the money would go to CROP to eleviate world hunger. You are the first to ask about receiving one outside of the USA. I currently am on a extended vacation, and will have to research the method and cost of sending a cd. Check in a month and I will try to have an answer posted for you.

[dksghdms]

inspiring! how long have you been playing the cla?

[drdick524]

Thank you, dksghdms. I have been playing since I was seven. In the early years I practiced as much as fifteen hours a week (15-20 minutes just on tone daily).

[blmb10]

Absolutely amazing! :)

[drdick524]

Thank you, blmb. It always is nice to be appreciated.

[drdick524]

Thank you, skitrees, for adding to the clarification about vibrato on the clarinet. I assumed that ecgtrombone was strictly a classical brass player, and unfamiliar with jazz. The amount of vibrato used depends upon the mood one wishes to create. For the number on You tube I used more than I normally do. I did so to give something of the feel of a stringed instrument in the higer range. I was surprised that George Moses had posted me. However, I'm delighted that you enjoyed it.

[ecgtrombone]

It's okay... just know that vibrato on clarinet is very nonstandard.

[drdick524]

Good observation. Vibrato is never acceptable in marching or concert band, classsical orchestra or string ensembles. However, my professor of clarinet (who played principle clarinet for the Detroit Symphony and taught at the University of Michigan) taught me to use it for certain types of jazz. Acker Bilk, the British clainetist is noted for his vibrato-rich style. Pete Fountain, also employs it regularly.

[TaCoHoMo6]

yea but it sounds very good (:

[drdick524]

Thanks, TaCoHoMo6.  "I'm pleased that you liked it.

[skitrees]

ecgtrombone..."vibrato on clarinet is very nonstandard"!? It's all just a matter of perspective. Pete Fountain, Tim Laughlin, Johnny Dodds, Sidney Bechet, Edmond Hall, George Lewis, Barney Biggard, Sandor Benko, Benny Goodman, Evan Christopher, and Artie Shaw (just to name a few) all use(d) a lot of vibrato. I grew up listening to them, so vibrato sounds "standard" to me! =) Great playing here - wonderful feeling and interpretation!! Thank you! Dr. Cheatham 4 playing, and gmoses 4 posting!

[sugarfaye03]

I think it is soooo great that you are playing for the Lord. I play the clarinet also, have been for 11 years now. I love it. I play in my church orchestra. You are amazing. I wish I could play like that.

[drdick524]

Thank you, sugarfaye, for your nice words. I also am playing with the church orchestra in preparation for their Christmas program. Keep practicing and enjoying the music you make.

Dr Dick

[mbas97]

absolutely beautiful. i play clarinet as well

[drdick524]

mbas97, Thanks for the compliment. I hope you enjoy playing your clarinet as much as I enjoy playing mine. It serves as a great outlet for otherwise hidden feelings.

[ranatlas]

Excellent!  Great tone, very smooth and soulful playing. Thank you for sharing.

[drdick524]

Thank you for your gracious words.

Dick C.

[BeatrizSa2]

Very nice sound! Magnific :')

[drdick524]

Thank you for your generous critique.

Dick C.

[fritzjazz]

Hello Mr. Cheatham! I am a jazzclarinetist ijn Hungary, Europe. I like your sound! Is it an american istrument or french? And your mouthpiece? It is so warm! Great!!!

[fritzjazz]

Hello Mr. Cheatham! I am a jazzclarinetist ijn Hungary, Europe. I like your sound! Is it an american istrument or french? And your mouthpiece? It is so warm! Great!!!

[fritzjazz]

Hello Mr. Cheatham, I am a jazzclarinetist in Hungary, Europe. I like your sound! Is it an american instrument or french? And your mouthpiece? It is so warm! Great!!!

[drdick30]

Thank you, Fritzjazz. The clarinet is a pre-WWII Selmer. I spent about two to three hours trying out about forty different mouthpieces before I decided upon this one.

As you obviously know, the correct mouthpiece fit for the player and instrument makes a major difference in the sound produced. I use a LaVaz med solf reed. I find them to be a perfect match for my mouthpiece and style.

Good luck to you.

Dr.Dick

[RainerStraessle]

I like your playing very best! I play this spiritual too. I could learn a lot.

All the best wishes Rainer

[drdick30]

Thank you, Rainer. Just keep playing what you feel.

[drdick30]

This is available as part of a CD I made called, "A Preacher Plays:Beethoven to Bourbon Street." All proceeds go to World Service CROP to combat world hunger.

[Aceaka]

that was beautiful, and blessed i would like to play that for my church.. i want to know if you could send me the sheetmusic for that

[drdick30]

There is no sheet music for what I did. The melody is to be found in the latest United Methodist hymnal (#77). It is in the key of B flat (your C). I merely played it in the three octaves available to the clarinet, and my organist provided background chording.

[Aceaka]

alright. thanks then

[clarinetbrasil]

Fantastic.

Very, very beautifull.

I began to study clarinet in jan/2007 and hope to play like this very soon.

Congratulations, and continue playing so well as you do, always to the glory of our God.

God bless you.