Solo for Clarinet

This is my newest piece for Clarinet and accompanied by piano. I wrote it for a friend who plays clarinet who was dying for me to write something for her. It took me about two weeks to write. It alternates between the main theme and various other ideas that sprout from it. The main theme came to me from messing around with intervals. I choose the tritone and it was downhill from there. This piece uses a lot of augmented five chords. Besides that I don't really think about chord progressions. Enjoy!



(I just started using sound click, so it might be a little messed up. I just left a link to the stream).

javascriptlayer('../player/single_player.cfm?son gid=5455482&q=lo&ref=2');
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Hello there

I have to say, there are some very interesting ideas/motifs used in the piece. Good job with that. You also are able to evoke different moods through the mellow/jazzy opening, frantic 16ths, and phrygian-sounding "march".

As a clarinetist, I can tell you a few things:

Remember that in order for a clarinet (in Bb) to play concert pitch, it must play a written major second above. So while (currently) the piano plays in C, the clarinet is playing in D. I'm sure you know this, but, depending on the skill of the clarinentist in question, some of the runs may be too challenging. Keep that in mind.

Also, the clarinetist seems to be doing all the work here. Pianists can breathe whenever they want, so maybe you should consider easing up the clarinet part and giving some more material to the pianist. After all, even though the piano is accompanying the clarinet, it's really still a duet. And this will also give the clarinetist so time to breathe.

Great work.

(and I've attached your midi file as well, sequenced by NWC)

the link doesn't work

Interesting...First of all, that is challenging music (for Clarinet...a lot of 16th note runs)....but very nice music...there was also some parts that do not mach...most important though is the dificulty, tounging 16th notes over the bridge is hard especially the Eb or on any reed instrument tounging 16th notes (Same note) is kind of hard....Nice melody...I like the ending a lot it reminds me of mozart (7 meaures before the end).

Oops I definately forgot to change it out of concert pitch that's my fault. I'll try to get the link to work, and thanks for the comments.

That's a highly enjoyable piece of music. All parts were very interesting and it seems to be very fun for the clarinetist.

I am looking forward for a live version (?)!

Thanks. I'm having my friend perform it sometime in the coming semester.

unfortunately, the MID file doesn't translate too well through Finale

but it gives me an idea of what it SHOULD sound like at least.

there are some great ideas in this piece.

one minor nit-pick: it's not a clarinet solo. hehehe it's a piece for clarinet and piano. there I was expecting to hear music for a single clarinet, all alone, by itself, then that darned piano had to barge in.

I really like this piece
I played it. Not only does it sound completely magnificent, but it's a joy to play
(All I had to do was lower the clarinet and the piano by a tone so I could play along with it)

Question, though: Is this meant to be in C-major for the Clarinet? Or is there work yet to be done on transposing the piano up?