Klarinet Archive - Posting 000233.txt from 1994/05

From: Clark W Fobes <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Elliot Carter
Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 14:33:29 -0400

On Thu, 12 May 1994, Karen Noel-Bentley wrote:

> A pianist asked me if Carter has written a piece for clarinet and piano.
> In my Luyben Music catalogue, I found a listing for "Pastoral" by Carter.
> Has anyone played this piece? Can you tell me anything about it (length?
> level of difficulty? opinion? etc.)?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Karen
>
I believe that the piece you are referring to was originally written for
English Horn and is very often played in a Viola version. As Elliot
Carter goes, I would call this "easy listening." I am an Elliot Carer
fan, but in a recent performance of an all Carter program I found this
composition to be the least interesting, albeit very nice. On the same
program a very recent solo piece for clarinet was performed by my good
friend and colleague, Gregory Dufford, who plays with the San Francisco
Opera Orchestra. The piece is app. 5minutes and is extremely "gymnastic".
I am sorry that I do not recall the title of this composition. It was
written in 1993.

Another wonderful piece by Carter for the clarinet is his Duo for
clarinet and Flute. Very tough, but musically worth the effort!

Clark W Fobes