Klarinet Archive - Posting 000170.txt from 1996/05

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: 5-Clarinet-Type Quintets
Date: Wed, 8 May 1996 18:07:22 -0400

Jacqueline,

Regarding the dearth of 5-clarinet-type quintets, I'd like to
mention the following (at the risk of repeating some earlier mention of
this quintet).

At a surprise birthday party given me by my wife in 1990, four
clarinet-playing friends presented me with such a quintet, which they
commissioned composer Raymond Burkhart to write. The piece was entitled,
"Variations on an American Tune" and was written for Eb, Bb, A, Eb alto,
and Bb bass clarinets.

The commissioners were Trudi Wreede, Ed Donohue, list-member Don
Gross, and Don Blasick. The "American Tune" referred to in the title is
"Happy Birthday to You" (is it really an American tune?)

A total tongue-in-cheek novelty piece, the composition shows off
the different clarinets using variations of the birthday tune played in
different musical styles (e.g., jazz, latin, etc.)

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California