Klarinet Archive - Posting 000650.txt from 1995/05

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Goodman clarinet concerti
Date: Tue, 23 May 1995 01:48:33 -0400

A short while ago John Henninger posted an interesting question
about concerti commissioned by Benny Goodman to which Dan Leeson
submitted a thoughtful and informative reply.

Although I have nothing to add to the subject of concerti
commissioned by Goodman, there are a number of other major works he
commissioned or stimulated that are worthy of mention.

An important work (in my estimation) is "Derivations for Clarinet
and Jazz Band," which was composed for Goodman by Morton Gould in 1955.
The definitive (and possibly only) recording of this composition is by
Goodman and the Columbia Jazz Band conducted by Gould.

While on the subject of Morton Gould, I should mention another
work -- minor in scope to be sure -- but appropriate to the occasion. The
work, "Benny's Gig" by Gould (G. Schirmer), consists of 8 duos for clarinet
and double bass. The first seven were written in 1962 celebrating Goodman's
Russian tour, and the eighth was a gift to Goodman from his close friend,
Gould, in honor of Goodman's 79th birthday. Though little known, this
collection of duos, deserves to be in the library of every
clarinetist who enjoys playing arranged jazz.

In preparing for a recent chamber-music recital, I had occasion
to write the program notes for the Poulenc "Sonata for Clarinet and
Piano." I knew the work had been written in memory of Poulenc's dear
friend, Arthur Honeggger, and was also reported to have been dedicated to
Sergei Prokofieff (musical compositions often have separate memorials
and dedications). But, in reading further through my source material,
I was reminded that the Sonata had been commissioned in 1962 by Goodman.

The material available to me presented conflicting and sometimes
unclear accounts of the early history of the composition. The first
edition of the music was published posthumously. According to one account,
the composition was first heard (premiered?) in New York in April of 1963
with Goodman on clarinet and Leonard Bernstein at the piano. Another
report states merely that the work was premiered at a memorial concert
for Poulenc himself. (Could both accounts have been referring to the
same performance?)

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California