Klarinet Archive - Posting 000401.txt from 1996/06

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: American works for cl and pno
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 16:01:28 -0400

Leslie,

I'm playing three pieces on Friday, June 28th in a mixed classical/jazz
program that would qualify as being among my favorite works for clarinet
and piano by American composers -- well, at least two of the composers
are American. The following are the works:

1. Because I share Fred Jacobowitz's high opinion of Alec Templeton's
"Pocket Size Sonatas", I am performing his "Pocket Size Sonata No. 1,"
which I've done many times in the past. Although the composition is
written in a 1940s-1950s American jazz idiom, and is very representative
of American popular music of that era, Templeton, whom I saw and heard
many times, was English. Perhaps he adopted the U.S. as a new home -- a
possibility someone else might comment on. Still, I have no
reservation in playing this work as being representative of American
music.

2. I recommend the third movement, "Rag," of Morton Gould's
"Derivations" for clarinet and jazz band in the piano-reduction version.
This work is a marvelous miniature -- very nostalgic and very American.
And, its title notwithstanding, it doesn't sound like any Rag I heard before.

3. The third work is rarely performed because it's for Eb clarinet and
piano, but it's a very worthy American composition. I refer to "Little
Suite of Four Dances for Eb Clarinet and Piano" by William Bolcom. This
composer has for some time had a special affinity for the little
clarinet, which he has featured prominently in his orchestral works. The
"Little Suite..." was (I believe) his first solo clarinet composition
other than his "Short Lecture on the Clarinet."

As an afterthought, other works worthy of mention are as follows:

In addition to the three works listed above, I'll also be performing
one for violin and piano, which I play on C clarinet minus the double
stops (I rarely tell the audience it's not a clarinet piece). The composition
is "Graceful Ghost" Concert Variations for violin and piano by William Bolcom.
I've performed this piece many times, and it's extremely popular with
audiences.

I will also be playing James Scott's "Frog Legs Rag" arranged
for Eb clarinet and piano by Bolcom. (This work is part of Bolcom's
"Afternoon Cakewalk" ballet, which is mostly for clarinet, violin, and
piano.)

On Mon, 24 Jun 1996, Leslie Schroerlucke wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I am interested in finding out everyone's favorite works for clarinet and
> piano, written by American composers. These can be works like the Bernstein
> Sonata or the Copland Concerto (clarinet and piano arrangement). I am doing a
> recital in a foreign country, and would like to find some works that would be
> good representatives of American clarinet music. Suggestions anyone?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Leslie Schroerlucke
>