Klarinet Archive - Posting 000258.txt from 2003/04

From: James Langdell <langdell@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Re: Darius Milhaud Petit Concert
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:33:15 -0400

Are you sure there is an orchestration of
the accompaniament for this piece?
My understanding is that the movements
of this arrangement for clarinet and piano
are based on incidental music for unaccompanied
clarinet composed by Milhaud for the
play "Bal de voleurs" by Anouilh.

In this play the clarinetist plays the role
of "The Orchestra" at a resort, which plays
music that the characters listen to and comment
on. The player also remains on stage--unseen
(most of the time) by other characters)--
to play scene-setting music. It's an amusing
effect in that script.

The only time I saw this play staged was
at ACT in San Francisco. The role of The
Orchestra was played by a saxophonist, rather
than a clarinet player. I don't know if any
of Milhaud's original music for the play was
used in this performance.

So, back to the Petit Concert edition, I believe
the piano arrangement was providing an accompaniment
for an unaccompanied composition, rather than being
a reduction of an existing orchestral accompaniament.
Unless the arranger also fabricated an orchestral
arrangement, one doesn't exist.

--James Langdell langdell@-----.net

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