Klarinet Archive - Posting 000320.txt from 1994/03

From: James Langdell <James.Langdell@-----.COM>
Subj: Solo Clarinet Theater
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 1994 16:31:22 -0500

I've been interested in the discussions of William Albright's
unaccompanied clarinet piece "Saints Preserve Us." That
inspired me to pick up a copy. Yes, the composer does pay
unusual attention to visual aspects of the performance, including
a choreography in the first movement for moving the instrument
up/down/right/left in a variety of cross patterns inspired by the
subject matter.

Albright's ragtime partner, William Bolcom, also has composed
a theatrical piece for unaccompanied clarinet, called "A Short
Lecture on the Clarinet." It involves as much speaking to the
audience as playing. Too bad the piece ends without spinning
more of its yarn about troops of clarinet players going
out on cane cutting safaris in the deepest jungles of the world.

Another piece involving equal doses of speaking and playing
is "Bedtime Stories" by Tom Johnson (best known for his opera
called "The Four Note Opera").

Anyone know of other theatrical solo clarinet pieces, besides
the Stockhausen works that came up a few weeks ago?

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