PRELUDE AND VIVACE, 1996

Duration: 11 minutes

Clarinet solo, 1,1,1,1, 1,1,1, 2 perc., 2vln.,vla,cel.,bs

MOVEMENTS:

Prelude

Vivace Ritmico

Prelude and Vivace is a chamber version of the Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra which was composed in 1994 for Richard Stoltzman. In the Prelude, the solo clarinet floats above or below, or winds around and through orchestral sonorities that are sometimes warm, singing and sparkling, and sometimes languid, hazy clouds of sound. An ascending motif begins in the clarinet and occurs frequently throughout, drifting upward at the final cadence.

The peace and tranquillity of the Prelude changes drastically when all caution lets loose in the light-hearted, exuberant and quite raucous Vivace Ritmico. Elements of jazz and the mood of a lively party combine with repetitive rhythmic patterns, changing meters, playful exchanges and comic sounds. A traditional cadenza for the clarinet culminates with a short exchange between the clarinet and a siren in the percussion section before the movement rushes forward to a conclusion.

On CRI, 1999 - CD #821 "Crosswinds"

Performances

Oberlin New Music Ensemble, Timothy Weiss, conductor, 10/2/98

Cleveland Chamber Symph., CSU Drinko Hall, Cleve., OH 11/13/97

Cleveland Chamber Symph., Old Stone Ancient Rock Series, Cleve, OH 11/11/97

CIM Contemporary Music Ensemble, Cleveland OH, 4/23/97

New Music Ensemble, Duquesne University, David Stock, cond., Pittsburg, PA, 4/11/96