Concerto for Piccolo Clarinet
William Neil
About this work:
Concerto for Piccolo Clarinet was written and dedicated to clarinetist John Bruce Yeh. The music makes dramatic shifts between the E-flat clarinet's high virtuous technical flights and its mystical, expressive qualities. The sound resources for entire work are entirely derived from the clarinet's opening descending line that quickly developes into a succession of firey cadenzas. The soloist then leads the ensemble in a highly spirited dance of counterpoint and rhythm.
"The single-movement work deploys the E-flat clarinet through virtuosic solo flexing and moodily lyrical ruminations in which the instruments function more of less as equals. Fleeting ints of jazz and eruptive contrasts of rhythmic energy merge within a concisely crafted structure. I found it an absorbing and well-made piece..." John von Rhein Chicago Tribune.
Year composed: 1989
Duration: 00:17:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 6-9 players
Instrumentation: 1 Eb Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Trumpet, 1 Trombone, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Double bass