Solo for Bass Clarinet
(2006)Program note
Solo For Bass Clarinet consists of a complete permutational set of four notes, distributed in turn by permutation over three registers (actually four in total): a ritual of repetitions-that-keep-appearing-in-different-patterns.
Out of curiosity I made two sketches of the work, a chromatic one and a diatonic one. Surprisingly enough the character of those two versions is completely different: the diatonic version sounds almost harmonic, in the chromatic one the different registers come out more clearly.
In the end I couldn’t choose between the two solos — so I decided to keep both, leaving the choice to the performer. I want an electronic ‘cathedral’ reverb to give the tones and gestures more space — making it sound like a lightly articulated continuum, changing almost imperceptibly and slowly ascending.
Out of curiosity I made two sketches of the work, a chromatic one and a diatonic one. Surprisingly enough the character of those two versions is completely different: the diatonic version sounds almost harmonic, in the chromatic one the different registers come out more clearly.
In the end I couldn’t choose between the two solos — so I decided to keep both, leaving the choice to the performer. I want an electronic ‘cathedral’ reverb to give the tones and gestures more space — making it sound like a lightly articulated continuum, changing almost imperceptibly and slowly ascending.
Scoring
Bass clarinet and electronic reverb
Duration
12' (chormatic version)
9' (diatonic version)
9' (diatonic version)
First performance
October11, 2009, De Pont Museum Tilburg, by Michel Marang.
Sheet music
Available for rent/purchase from Deuss Music.