Divertimento for Clarinet and Guitar

A short piece in four movements for clarinet and guitar, largely inspired by Mozart's compositions for clarinet.

Divertimento for Clarinet and Guitar

I neglected to say hello properly!

My name is Michael - new to the forum and also to composition. I'm starting a Degree in Music at Newcastle University in about a month where I expect to learn much about counterpoint and many other disciplines. At present, I just do my best and enjoy playing my pieces on my clarinet though I realise there is a good chance that they are flawed in many ways.

Anyway, here is a Divertimento I wrote for clarinet and guitar. Criticism and advice would be welcome so please don't hold back, even if I am very much starting out.

Thanks a lot.

This is a charming short, Michael. The one inquiry I have is why the key sig changes? There doesn't seem to be any reasoning that I can see in the score or listening.

Hi,

I hate to tell you but I really don't like Mozart..

But I do like this! It's quite pleasing and calming... sounds almost like it would be played at an afternoon tea.

A few things, however. I think it needs some change, perhaps one movement in a more contrasting key. Also, maybe a tidbit to predictable...

Overall, however, it's quite a nice piece. Keep composing!

Heklaphone

Aww, some of your writing is so cute! You have a nice character comming through in these works.

As you're clearly aware from your opening post, more work on musical disciplines (counterpoint, harmony, etc) would of course be beneficial (and I would also advise that you think about contrast/intensification of your musical ideas) but this is a very pleasant work and not a bad start at all.

P.S. Jason (Jawoodruff) raises a good point; a lot (not all, admittedly) of the time siganture changes in the middle of a movement make little/no sense?

Hello all, thank you very much for taking the time to listen. I do appreciate it!

Regarding the change to 5/8 during the second movement in particular, in a way I was using the piece as an exercise in trying to write a memorable and natural sounding melody using an unusual time signature, as well as deliver something of a surprise (an unwelcome one, perhaps?) Is this something you would advise against for this piece? I happen to think the change to 9/8 in the fourth movement is a fairly neat idea, but I suppose this could be down to taste.

Given that divertimenti are pieces that are characteristically lighthearted and carefree, I figured I would attempt to maintain a somewhat relaxed and happy mood throughout the four movements, hence the absence of contrasts. I will however be submitting some more music in due time that I hope will put this straight and I also look forward to listening to some pieces submitted by other users in the meantime - I like what's going on here on this forum.

Thanks again!

Hello all, thank you very much for taking the time to listen. I do appreciate it!

Regarding the change to 5/8 during the second movement in particular, in a way I was using the piece as an exercise in trying to write a memorable and natural sounding melody using an unusual time signature, as well as deliver something of a surprise (an unwelcome one, perhaps?) Is this something you would advise against for this piece? I happen to think the change to 9/8 in the fourth movement is a fairly neat idea, but I suppose this could be down to taste.

Given that divertimenti are pieces that are characteristically lighthearted and carefree, I figured I would attempt to maintain a somewhat relaxed and happy mood throughout the four movements, hence the absence of contrasts. I will however be submitting some more music in due time that I hope will put this straight and I also look forward to listening to some pieces submitted by other users in the meantime - I like what's going on here on this forum.

Thanks again!

The change to 5/8, 9/8, and the one 5/16 (I think that was it, don't ahve your score in front of me is fine). I'm referring to the changes to 3/4, 5/4, and 4/4. Those all have the same note value as their base - which doesn't really make much sense... aside from groupings. Also, the one change from 3/4 to 6/8 doesn't make sense either.