clarinet CONCERTO

arr. Symphonic Band


Duration ca. 20' (2016)
3d1pic.2d1eh.3(+1bcl).2bsn.2asx.1tsx.1bsx./3. 4.2(+1btb).1euph.1/timp.4perc/cb
Available as symphony orchestra arrangement

 
 

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Commissioned by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, the United States Air Force Band, the United States Navy Band, Marshall University, and Towson University.

Premiered by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band conducted by Capt. Ryan Nowlin, Alexandria, VA, March 25, 2018.

Other performances: University of Miami Frost Wind Ensemble conducted by Rob Carnochan, soloist Ricardo Morales, Miami, FL, February 6, 2017; United States Marine Band, conducted by Capt. Ryan J. Nowlin soloist Ricardo Morales, Alexandria, VA, March 19, 2017; University of Miami Frost Wind Ensemble conducted by Rob Carnochan, soloist Margaret Donaghue Flavin, CBDNA Conference, Kansas City, MO, March 17, 2017; “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band conducted by Col. Jason K. Fettig, Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, San Antonio, TX, July 27, 2018; University of Kentucky Wind Symphony conducted by Cody Birdwell, soloist Scott Wright, Lexington, KY, October 21, 2018.

 

Program Note

This concerto is subtitled "Nekudim," which translates roughly from Hebrew as "points." Though Nekudim has a deeper connotation, in a grammatical context, “nekudos” refer to the vowels in the Hebrew language, notated by lines and dots underneath each letter. The majority of Hebrew letters are consonants, such as "vav" which, when pronounced without any vowel, sounds "v." It is only the vowels that give the "v" vocal direction, such as "vee" or "voo," etc. In a metaphysical context, the letters are lifeless "bodies" that are animated with the "soul" of a vowel.

To me, a woodwind instrument - and the clarinet in particular - is a musical illustration of this concept.
A string instrument or piano resides outside of the player's physical body; the musician uses his/her exterior limbs (hands) to make the instrument sound. But the clarinet is attached to the player's mouth - the clarinetist literally breathes life into the notes on the page. So much nuance and tenacity of line in the first and last movements of my concerto is dependent upon the clarinetist's interpretation, their own inner essence, that the player must delve deep to unearth the inner meaning of the lines in his or her own way. This is the meaning of "Nekudim."