Klarinet Archive - Posting 000232.txt from 1995/11

From: Thomas Labadorf <Labadorf@-----.COM>
Subj: Calandrelli _Concerto for Jazz Clarinet_
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 1995 10:01:52 -0500

On November 11 Michael Norsworthy asked me about this concerto for clarinet
and here is what I sent him. Since it is a great work, it seemed like
something all clarinetists should know about.

Here is everything you wanted to know (and maybe a little more) about the
_Calandrelli Concerto for Jazz Clarinet and Orchestra_.

Here are a few notes from the score:
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"This work was commissioned by the Foundation for New American Music in 1983.

The Concerto had it's first performance in Los Angeles on March 17th, 1984 by
Eddie Daniels and The New American Orchestra under the direction of Jack
Elliott.

This work has been recorded by Daniels, with Ettore Stratta conducting the
Philharmonia Orchestra and has been released by GRP Records on the compact
disc _Breakthrough_ GRP-D-9533."
--------
Here is some information on the composer:

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"Mr. Calandrelli completed his musical studies in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in
piano, harmony, counterpoint and composition with maestros Guillermo Iscla,
Carlos Guastvino, Jacobo Fischer and Garcia Morillo.

As both Composer and Orchestrator, Mr. Calandrelli has been involved in major
Television and Motion Picture productions in the United States and Latin
America. Among the most outstanding are: "The Color Purple"/Steven
Spielberg (Oscar Nomination); "Billionaire Boys Club"/Marvin Chomsky;
"Tron"/Steven Lisberger; "The Shining"/Stanley Kubrick; "Sola"/Raul De La
Torre; and "Sonar"/Leonardo Favio.

Mr. Calandrelli has received six Grammy Nominations from the National Academy
of Recording Arts and Science, the most recent for his contribution to Tony
Bennett's "Astoria: Portrait of an Artist" latest compact disc recording
(1991 {he's produced others since this date}. He has also been awarded the
ASCAP Film and Television Award, and the English Wavendon All-Music Award for
his Clarinet Concerto as "Composer of the Year."
--------

The orchestra scoring is brilliant. Calandrelli is a big fan of Igor
Stravinsky, his scoring reflects this. The "improvised" section of the first
movement has a definate Rite of Spring influence. (In fact he admits it.)
The score is full of tone colors using English horn, muted brass, flugel
horns, piano, celete and a large percussion battery. I transcribed the
orchestra version for wind ensemble, and since most of the original involves
heavy wind and percussion scoring, it adapts very well to this medium.

The clarinet part is challenging. It is a three movement work: Allegro,
Adagio, Presto. The Allegro is "legit" sounding based on diminished scale
patterns. The Adagio is classical/jazz ballad style. The Presto is in 12/8
in augmented scale patterns AND IT GOES! Each movement has an improvised
section. You have the option of reading Calandrelli's written out music or
making up your own using the chord symbles provided. The first and last
movements also have cadenzas which can be read or improvised. The part
itself is in a clear hand manuscript and 19 pages long.

Over all, it is a great work. When I first heard the Daniels recording I
knew the third movement would work perfectly for the wind ensemble. I
contacted Jorge and he encouraged me to transcribe the entire work. I
performed the wind ensemble version with the Coast Guard Band in 1991 at the
Mid-west Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Ill. The second and third
movements were taken on tour to Japan by the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Donald
Hunsberger, conducting and Kenny Grant, solo clarinet. The first movement is
almost finished - I just need to make final note checks and a reading before
it can be available. The orchestra and wind ensemble parts are handled by
Theodore Presser in Bryn Mawr, PA. If you would like to know more, please
listen to the Eddie Daniels recording, or contact me personally.

Tom Labadorf
Clarinetist, U.S. Coast Guard Band
Labadorf@-----.com