Klarinet Archive - Posting 000254.txt from 1995/07

From: "Edwin M. Richards" <76400.1435@-----.COM>
Subj: Corigliano Concerto
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 1995 20:46:54 -0400

Lou Polcari asked about the Corigliano Concerto (1977) - yes, the clarinet part
is available for purchase from G.Schirmer (published in 1993) as part of a
clarinet/piano reduction (done by the composer) - Schirmer also sells the
orchestral score, but orchestral parts are rental only. The Concerto was
written for Stanley Drucker and the NY Philharmonic - I know of two recordings;
one by Drucker with NYPhil/Mehta on New World Records - the other by Stoltzman
with the London Symphony (RCA Victor Red Seal). I much prefer the Drucker
recording - his finger technique is astounding, and the nervous musical activity
of the 1st and 3rd movements are perfect for his style of playing. Stoltzman
shows his usual fertile musical imagination, but there are some sections that he
simply can't play.

The work itself uses a large orchestra (6 horns) and is quite involved
(Corigliano says that it approaches being a concerto for orchestra in its
demands) - in the last movement [Antiphonal Toccata], orchestra members (winds)
are scattered throughout the hall/balconies in reference to some of the
antiphonal musical material (quotes from Gabrieli's "Sonata Pian e Forte"). The
first movement [Cadenzas] is made up of two cadenzas, separated by an interlude.
The slow and beautiful second movement [Elegy] was written in memory of
Corigliano's father (who was concertmaster of the NYP for 23 years) - there is
an extended dialogue for solo clarinet and violin.

Because the orchestration is so idiomatic, the piano reduction has lots of
problems - in fact, many parts are left out in the finale. When I did the work
in Syracuse, we had ONE 2 1/2 hour rehearsal!!! (and only a few of the players
had played the work before!) - typical for American orchestras (I recently did
another much simpler concerto with an orchestra in Tokyo where we had FOUR
rehearsals!!). Because of the short rehearsal time, the string sections did not
divisi in as many parts as they should have in the last movement (the sound
should move from front to back of the sections) - nevertheless, the performance
sure was exciting!!!!! [the piece does require a very good orchestra]