Klarinet Archive - Posting 000886.txt from 2002/07

From: "Stephen C. Moore" <stmoore@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Low Clarinet Literature?
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 19:01:04 -0400

Donald Martino wrote a Triple Concerto for Bb clarinet, bass clarinet, BBb
contra and orchestra. There's a recording of it on a CD called Notturno
which you can find on Amazon. It has a lot of similar characteristics to
a piece for bass clarinet he wrote titled Strata - the name serves it well
because the piece takes the instrument through an almost ridiculous range.

Stephen C. Moore stmoore@-----.edu/~stmoore
Technical Assistant, Computer Science Dept., New Mexico State University
At CGNU, the future is you!..... Probably!
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On Tue, 30 Jul 2002, Bear Woodson wrote:

> Hello, again.
>
> Years ago, on a few occasions, I have heard
> Clarinet Ensembles rehearsing in university music
> department class rooms, but I have never heard an
> actual concert by a group of Clarinets with the
> rarer sizes in it. As far as I know, I have never
> heard an E-Flat Alto Clarinet Solo, nor a Bb
> Contra Bass Clarinet. I know I've never seen one
> in detail, up close. (My eyesight is not so great.)
>
> The one work that keeps coming to my mind
> is the William Schuman (1910-1992) Symphony
> No. 7 (1960). It has 4 continuous movements,
> with a Cadenza for the Clarinet and Bass Clarinet
> between the First and Second Movements. Have
> any of you played this work? I really like it, and
> it was the first inspiration for me to someday
> write sonatas and concertos for Bass Clarinet.
>
> When I wrote my "Second Woodwind Quintet"
> the local bassoonists balked, and said it was "be-
> neath them to play works by a 'student' composer".
> (Keep in mind that they knew I was in my 40's,
> working on my grad studies, had been composing
> on and off for 30 years, and was now writing fugal
> movements, double and triple fugues, in my so-
> natas and concertos, that are rapidly gaining world-
> wide attention. This is not the typical 'student'.)
>
> I then made an Alternate Bb Bass Clarinet
> Part and had the pleasure of getting my "Second
> Woodwind Quintet" performed with Enid Blount
> playing the part. Her recording has been a BIG
> influence on me, to want to write a number of
> works for Lower Clarinets! I love the sound of a
> Bass Clarinet, and if the E-Flat Alto is similar, I
> think I will enjoy that, too.
>
> By the way, the other month ago, I got the
> David Shifrin recording of the Mozart Clarinet
> Concerto with the Extended Body Clarinet. Too
> often things like this just Tacky Gimmicks, but
> Mr. Shifrin's playing on this recording is En-
> dearing, Tasteful and Profound! I am deeply
> touched by both the playing and the wonderful
> timber as the Clarinet descends to notes that are
> too low for the standard clarinet. This also in-
> spires me to want to hear and write for an Eb
> Alto Clarinet.
>
> Do any of you have other suggestions for
> other Low Clarinet Literature, like for Eb Alto,
> Bass or Contra Bass?
>
>
> Bear Woodson
> Composer in Tucson, Arizona, USA
> "Bear Woodson" <bearwoodson@-----.net>
>
>
>
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>

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