Voice leading: Stravinsky's "Three Pieces for Clarinet"

At the end of last year I applied for a composition course which I didn't get into, but I managed to get some feedback from the head of composition later on.

He suggested among other things looking at this piece, especially at the voice leading in it. I know what voice leading means in the context of a chord progression, but what does "voice leading" mean in the context of a solo piece like this, is it just the way the line outlines the harmony?

Also if anyone has the sheet music for it, I'd really appreciate a copy, if not, I'll just transcribe it.

Thanks all

...if anyone has the sheet music for it, I'd really appreciate a copy, if not, I'll just transcribe it.

I don't know the piece, and can't really help explain 'voice leading' in that context.... But, I'd expect that. for you to transcribe it would be useless, especially for analysis purposes. Get the score - buy it, hit a university library, beg, borrow, steal it.

The exact rhythmic notation will be useful, also Stravinsky's note naming (enharmonic) will be very important in analyzing his voice-leading.

:thumbsup: Good luck.

The exact rhythmic notation will be useful, also Stravinsky's note naming (enharmonic) will be very important in analyzing his voice-leading.

That's some great advice from robinjessome, even if he doesn't know the piece :O

He is right about getting a score. There are many rhythmic changes which are important in the understanding the form and harmony behind that single melodic line.

I have some notes on that piece which I could scan/type for you, if you want. Similarly interesting pieces could be Debussy's "Syrinx" and Varese's "Density 21.5", if you want to have something more to look at.

Take care! :D

Hey jujimufu I would really appreciate those notes. Do you have the sheet music for it? All I've managed to get a hold of is a sample first page from some music purchasing website. I could actually probably still learn a lot from that.

I'd like to check out those other pieces too, I have a recording of density, but not the music.

thanks heaps :)

The music is pretty cheap to buy. I'm playing this piece on my recital in March. The harmonies are pretty fun, but it would be a lot easier for you to get a score rather then myself write out all of it :P

Hey, sorry for the delay. Yes, I will scan the score as soon as possible. I've been terribly busy the past week, and I will be busy until friday, so if you can wait until the weekend it would really help me :D take care!

I can wait as long as you want. Thanks so much. :)

Oh, dont worry about Syrinx, I have the music for that now

I have the score, but I'd rather not upload it here. I am sending you the link via pm. If anyone else wants the score, please don't hesitate to PM me :)

Sorry again for delaying 20 days, but I've been terribly busy, and to be honest, I kinda forgot all about it until today :P

It might also be useful to compare the writing with L'Histoire du Soldat. The Three Pieces for Clarinet were written as a gesture towards the man who had funded the performaces of L'Histoire, who was an ameteur clarinettist. I'm sure you could find some parallel between the rhythmic balence in the second two pieces and the kinds of rhythmic divisions in L'Histoire, as well as other works of that time, such as Renard and Les Noces.

L.