Klarinet Archive - Posting 000628.txt from 1998/07

From: Bradley Wong <bradley.wong@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bolcomb Concerto
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 21:33:39 -0400

Mark Charette wrote:
>
> I'm playing a tape right now - must have been left in the machine by my
> son - of the Bolcomb Clarinet Concerto. First time I ever heard it. Wicked,
> wicked piece (nice tuba work in the 2nd movement!) My Concise Baker's
> doesn't list it. What year it was composed? and - can/does the piano
> reduction do it justice? (the tone palette is all over the place!)
>
> I've got no idea who's playing on the tape, but it's a nice tone and crisp
> articulation. Whether or not the music calls for it (since I have no notion
> of what the score looks like).

Bill Bolcom teaches at the University of Michigan. I heard Elsa Verdehr
perform his concerto 3 or 4 years ago with the Lansing Symphony -- I
believe this was the premier. Elsa played in her usual extraordinary
manner, and the piece was very effective. Because of the rich colors of
the orchestration, I don't know how effective the piano reduction would
be. But as is the case with all concertos, it provides an opportunity
for performance or study when no orchestra is available.

Brad Wong
Western Michigan University

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