Klarinet Archive - Posting 001060.txt from 1998/03

From: "L. BORCHERT" <lborcher@-----.Edu>
Subj: Re: Info on Skrowaczewski Concerto
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 01:32:04 -0500

For Clarinet in A.
Date of composition is 1981.

Three movements: The first is sectional Lento misterioso -Allegro-Cadenza
(written out)-Allegretto-Allegro and ends pp on a low e. The second is a
Nocturne with the first 58 Largo measures to be played "completely free,
rubato, personal, aleatoric way." Then an attacca to the third Finale at
a Presto tempo (lots of chromatic and arpeggios). This last movement also
ends "down" with the last 22 measures marked p or pp.

There are also directions in the piano score saying . . .
"The unique color and texture of this composition are impossible
to capture in a conventional piano reduction. Therefore this reduction is
is intended by the composer for rehearsal purposes only, not to be used
for performance."

This is a very reflective work, with enough technique and musical
rubato included to make it a difficult work to bring to the audience.
IMHO, I don't think this is a work that would help "win" a competition.
You don't have to be limited to pieces with technical brilliance to win,
but if you are competing with piano players and they do the Grieg or even
Beethoven 5, then you have to have a musically powerful work to compare.

BTW, Skrowaczewski (I'm lucky I have the name in front of me to
help with the spelling) was the conductor and music director for the
Minnesota Orchestra at the time. I believe that Jacqueline and I must
have been at the same concert when Joe Longo performened the work, but I
had just graduated from college (Concordia in Moorhead, MN) at the time.

On
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, Mark Charette wrote:

> My son's thinking about entering a concerto competition for
> fun later this year, and his teacher recommended 2 for his
> consideration - the Spohr #4 and the Skrowaczewski Concerto.
> We just ordered both pieces, and we know what the Spohr is like,
> but I can't find any info or recording of the Skrowaczewski. Any
> help in getting some background on this piece would be appreciated.
>
> Cheers,
> --
> Mark Charette | "This is a very democratic organization, so let's
> charette@-----. All those who disagree with me, raise
> MIKA Systems, Inc.| their hands." - Eugene Ormandy
> Webmaster of http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet, The Clarinet Pages
>