Art Marshall: clarinet + sax + arranger + educator
Scores and Arrangements
Books and Articles
Etudes and Exercises
Born on March 15, 1942, Art Marshall (Hein van Maarschalkerwaart) originally started his career as an English language teacher at secondary school level. Interested in music from childhood he also studied the clarinet, bass clarinet and basset horn with Ru Otto in Amsterdam, with Aart Rooseboom and in the Hague (now first clarinet in Orchestre de la Suisse Romande). He changed over to the music profession after successfully having auditioned for an orchestral position and as such he played the bass clarinet, clarinet and basset horn professionally for 25 years in symphonic wind bands, theatre orchestras, symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles.
He started his professional career in the Amsterdam Police Band, which was the professional Concert Band of the City of Amsterdam. He also taught clarinet and saxophone at the Amsterdam Music Lyceum. An old interest in jazz music prompted him to write a course for improvisation in the Swing and Dixie idioms (ad lib playing) for his music school students entitled Take up Jazz.
Art Marshall has always had an interest in arranging and he was asked to do jazz pieces for the Amsterdam Police Band and numerous other groups. Some of his symphonic wind band arrangements (Original Dixieland One-Step, Oh, Lady be Good) were published, as well as a series of Quartet arrangements for clarinet and SATB Saxophone, on Gershwin themes which have enjoyed international recognition: Somebody Loves Me, Lady Be Good, The Man I Love, Liza and El Compadre.
These quartets, among which quite a few in manuscript, such as Mood Indigo, Making Whoopee, Memories of You, were originally written as encore pieces for the Amsterdam Clarinet Quartet in which he played the bass clarinet.
Art Marshall translated numerous music books and instrumental methods for piano, trumpet, flute and mouth harp from English to Dutch. Since 1991 he has left Holland to take up a post as Educational Officer in the Netherlands Antilles where he performs with chamber music groups. He also arranges for local bands and on request. In St. Maarten, Art Marshall became a member of the Philipsburg Community Brass Band and since 2002, when Art Marshall came to live in Curacao, he was asked to join the Curacao Police Band.
In 2008 Art Marshall was installed as a member in the Order of Orange, a Royal Distinction awarded by to him by the Dutch Queen Beatrix for his work in the music education field. In 2009 Art Marshall was awarded a Plaque of Recognition for his arrangements by the Commissioner of Education, Culture and Sports for his arrangements of 19th century entertainment music of Curacao: Waltzes, Danzas, Polkas as well as for his band arrangements of the National Hymns of St. Maarten and Curacao. He currently lives on the island of Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles.
What people are saying:
"Dear Hein, it seems as if you hit the soul of a clarinet herself with your arrangements. In playing them with our quartett "Scorzonera", every time we feel happiness reflecting from our audience. Many thanks for coming to Neustadt this year and playing and studying with us in the quartett as well as in the "Marcus Marr Bigband". A special highlight were your arrangements for quartett and choir for "Summertime" and "Mack the Knife", that we performed acompanying "Der Kleine Chor". As the human voice and clarinets fit perfectly, please do not stop to arrange for choir and quartett, Yours sincerely," Martin Holzapfel, Germany
"I play in a Tucson, AZ clarinet Quartet and a clarinet choir. Both groups have had great success performing your arrangements. We have found the arrangements consistently challenging, witty, and engaging, all at the same time. And they sound good too." Bob Meade, Tuscon, AZ
"Art, It took a long time to finally get in touch with you and express my appreciation for your revivifying the generation of composers whose music your arrangements do so much to enhance. You are introducing this music to a number of musicians who knew nothing about it and are now anxiously visiting this era and eating it up. I've seen that personally in the group that I play with in our local band in Takoma Park Md. That's no mean feat. The fact that you showcase the instruments so well is ancillary. We are looking forward to more of the same, and wish you all the best in your endeavors." Joseph Gaffney, Takoma Park, MD
"We love your arrangements, Art. And, our audiences do, too. It's amazing what you can do with four or five parts.You must be one of the most clever clarinet arrangers working today. Keep up the excellent work. Break a leg!" Warren Rubin, Plano, TX
"Thank you, Art, for your patience and endurance in helping us adapt your Summertime and Petite Fleur Quartets to our ensemble group." Mary Hustad, Norway
"Greetings, People in here still speak about our concerts with you in Neustadt! We also think back with pleasure of our inspiring rehearsals with you in the week that you were here. May regards from all co-workers in our workshop." Wolfgang and Ludwig Dietz, Germany
