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

Elementary Studies

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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

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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 Title Tempo Written Key Meter
26 Etude I   = 120 C major 6
8
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 12
8
177 Etude VIII   = 84 C major 2
4
189 An Irish Ballad   = 72 F major 3
4
190 An Old German Folksong   = 80 B major 3
4

Characteristic Studies

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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 2
4
Sixteenth note
3 D major Allegro risoluto   = 132 12
8
Eighth note
4 B minor Allegro misterioso   = 120   Sixteenth note
5 D major Moderato energico   = 72 3
4
Eighth note
6 B minor Moderato marcato   = 100   Eighth note
7 E major Allegro moderato   = 132 3
4
Sixteenth note
8 C minor Allegro agitato   = 152   Eighth note triplet
9 E major Allegretto giusto   = 104 2
4
Sixteenth note
10 C minor Allegro moderato   = 96 3
4
Sixteenth note triplet
11 F major Allegretto  . = 188 9
8
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 12
8
Eighth note
15 G major Allegro ma non troppo   = 116   Sixteenth note
16 E minor Tempo di Bolero   = 120 3
4
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 6
8
Eighth note
20 F minor Furioso   = 132   Sixteenth note
21 B major Moderato   = 96   Eighth note
22 G minor Allegretto   = 108 3
4
Sixteenth note
23 B major Moderato   = 144 3
4
Eighth note
24 G minor Andante cantabile  . = 72 9
8
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
4
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 3
4
4 From the Shores of the Mighty Pacific Rondo Caprice C major, G major, and F major   and 2
4
5 The Débutanté Caprice Brillante C major and F major   and 2
4
6 Carnival of Venice Cornet Solo with Variations F major 6
8
7 Showers of Gold Scherzo F major and B major 3
4
and 2
4
8 Du Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen Cornet Solo with Variations B major 3
4
9 The Southern Cross Cornet Solo Romantique G minor and E major 3
4
and 2
4
10 Side Partners F major and B major   and 2
4
11 Twilight Dreams Waltz Intermezzo F major 3
4
12 Lillian Polka Caprice F major and B major   and 2
4
13 The Maid of the Mist Polka C major, F major, and B major 3
4
and 2
4
14 Neptune's Court G major and C major 2
4
and 6
8
15 My Love for You F major  

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Purtle, Jeff (6 February 2012). "Clarke's Technical Studies, Then and Now by Jeff Purtle | Purtle.com". Purtle.com archived by web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  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.