Klarinet Archive - Posting 000278.txt from 1995/10

From: Derek Parsons <Parsons_Derek/furman@-----.EDU>
Subj: Arrangement of Copland's Clarinet Concerto
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 1995 07:54:00 -0400

I'm rather disappointed in the less-than enthusiatic response to my inquiries
about interest in my arrangement of the Copland Concerto reduction. Am I to
believe that the clarinet world is satisfied to play this wonderful piece with
the existing reduction for single piano?? I know that the difficulty of the
full score makes a performance as it was intended quite formidable. My thought
is that this arrangement creates a fuller and more colourful effect than the
solo piano reduction without requiring a chamber orchestra or conductor.

Thank you if you have already indicated support for my endeavor. To those who
have not responded, I would really appreciate some feedback, whether positive or
negative. Thanks in advance for your cooperation. In case you didn't get the
original post, here it is:

A colleague of mine, Julia Heinen, sent a message the other day concerning a new
reduction of the Copland Concerto which I have just completed, to be scored for
2 pianos and string bass. I think the reduction will work very nicely, with the
support of the bass in the lyrical opening (not to mention the slap part in the
fast section) and the rhythmic intensity of the two pianos. The arrangement
allows for a lot more activity in the reduction, while not overpowering the
soloist. It should be able to be done without conductor, provided there is an
occasional wink or nod from the Piano I performer.

I plan to take this arrangement to Boosey & Hawkes, but I would like to get some
support from the general clarinet community. Do you think this arrangement
would be worthwhile? I'd love to get some comments from the clarinet crowd
before taking up the issue with the publisher. Please respond via e-mail (or
the other) with any comments that you may have concerning this. Thank you if
you have already done so. Just call me a frustrated accompanist who is sick of
hearing this great piece in less-than-skeleton form.

Derek J. Parsons
Associate Professor of Piano
Furman University
Greenville, SC 29613
(803) 294-2099
parsons_derek/furman@-----.edu