Klarinet Archive - Posting 000187.txt from 1994/03

From: James Langdell <James.Langdell@-----.COM>
Subj: Clarinet Theater
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 1994 21:42:53 -0500

I've come across a few stage plays where there's a role
for on on-stage role as a clarinet player.

--Edward Albee's "The Sandbox" is a one-act sketch for
his evening-length "The American Dream." A clarinet
player is hired to play for Grandma's funeral. The
music for this play was composed by William Flannagan.
(I performed in this play in high school.)

--Jean Anouilh's "Thieves' Carnival" takes place at a resort
where a solitary musician plays the role of The Band.
In addition to playing music when The Band is part of the
scene, the musician remains in scenes playing an accompaniment
to the characters' lives.

Milhaud composed solo clarinet music for this play. I have an
arrangement of a few of the pieces ("Petite Concert") with piano
accompaniament. The only production I've seen of this had a sax
player, and I didn't think the music used was Milhaud's.

Does anyone know if the complete solo part is available?

--Michael Christofer's "The Lady and the Clarinet" was a play
that I heard about a few years ago. I've never seen it, but
I just now looked up information about the published script.
It seems to include the complete solo clarinet music for
the on-stage clarinettist who was hired to entertain a woman.
He plays as she tells him her life story.

Author: Cristofer, Michael.
itle: The lady and the clarinet / by Michael Cristofer.
New York, N.Y. (440 Park Ave. S., New York 10016) :
Dramatists Play Service, c1985.
Description: 102 p. : ill., music ; 20 cm.
Notes: "Musical score composed by Stanley Silverman ...
is included ... at the end of this edition of
the play"--P. 3.

I wonder if Silverman's score stands up to recital performance,
with or without an actress?

So has anyone heard/played these or other theatrical roles for
clarinet players?

--James Langdell jamesc@-----.com
Sun Microsystems Mountain View, Calif.