Clarinet duet miniature no. 1 - Pastoral

A miniature for two clarinets. Pastoral with echoing voices. Check out the other miniatures:- the hunting cat: http://www.youngcomp...ion?entry=43218- night murmurs: http://www.youngcomp...ion?entry=52989Clarinet duet miniature no. 1 - Pastoral

Clarinet duet miniature no. 1 - Pastoral

I enjoyed this miniature piece a lot. The echo-effect was very nicely used, and overall it conjured up pastoral images, even though I am not the guy who visualizes his music. Also, the somewhat free form gave me the impression of a careless sheepherder, similar to Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, 3 act.

There are a few notation issues:

- When you do not write articulations over the notes, do you want them tongued or legato? If not, forget that question...

- This is especally noticable in the triplet-movement in bar 4

- Unless you have a special plan about it, I would change the eigth grace-notes to grace sixteenth-notes. It looks better, and is musically less ambiguous.

- Why do you write the trill out? Playback problems?

- Bar 15: you might want to write in a cautionary accidental on the high f. It might be interpreted as an f# by some.

It was well composed and evocative.

Thank you for your comment! I want the notes without articulations legato, I initially didnt write slurs down because i was afraid it might get too crowded. I will change the grace notes and the f, good points. I wrote the trill out because I want it strictly played that way (so the trill would be pretty much even and not being slowly dragged into if you know what i mean) - not mechanically strict though, I dont mind it being played with a rit. towards the end. The updated sheets will be up in a minute

I thought your middle section was oddly introduced (by 3 counts of silence). I would also have to question the feasibility of a pianissimo high E-F quasi-tril on a clarinet, seeing as these tones are usually very piercing, it all depends on what you effect you intend though. The modal motives I found very pleasant, and the light and sparse texture makes it an easy listen.

I also questioned the pp trill in such a high register... I dont play clarinet myself so i cant judge whether a (very good) player could make it work. I thought about writing it as only the D (written E) without the trill, but that was a bit too dull for my taste. If the trill is feasible when played a bit louder thats fine with me, as long as the relative volumes of that section stay as they are

As a clarinetist I can tell you that any relatively advanced player would be able to play it, especially if they play it slightly louder than indicated, and they will if they have to. All professionals will easily play it. It does need a certain amount of control however, it is not something every clarinet player can play elegantly, so decide according to who you believe will perform it.

Thats a relief, thanks I will.

That takes skill to play I liked some of the Back and forth motion within this soce,,,Nice Work.Can You make it longer?

I really like the tension as a result of the minor second when they play E flat and D respectively. It was a pleasure to read along to, particularly because of the "echo" effect as has already been highlighted. Wish I could collar someone to play this with me!

I loved this! Rhythmically, very engaging and clever. The type of piece that experiments with tonality, but doesn't abandon it altogether. The score looks very detailed and attractive. Just one question: Would it be better to separate the notes in measures 10-13? I thought this might be better from a visual standpoint. Could just be my opinion, though. Great work!

Just one question: Would it be better to separate the notes in measures 10-13? I thought this might be better from a visual standpoint. Could just be my opinion, though. Great work!

Thanks! yes I think you're right. I guess for increasing reading and counting comfort even more, I should also split up the different tuplets so everything containing a separate eightnote-lenght would be easily discerned (apart from obvious eights and quarter notes)