Three Melodies for Clarinet and Piano (2008-11)
I composed the first version of these three pieces in 2008 for Jeff Boehmer. The year before, I had composed a set of seven rather esoteric pieces for him, which did not ignite in him a love for modern music. In response, I focused my ideas into highlighting the lyricism and expansive range (both in notes and dynamics) of the clarinet and produced these Melodies. When I came to JMU in 2009, I presented a revised version of these pieces on a student composers recital. Since then, I have revised the pieces further and present them today in what (I hope) will be their final form.
The inspiration for the work comes from the music of early to mid-20th century French composers, including Satie, Messiaen , Poulenc, and Milhaud. Though my intention was to model each movement after a specific composer, as I revised the Melodies, the evidence of the individual composers’ influences dissipated. Each movement now contains a suggestion of the French composers, but the prevailing style is my own.
I composed the first version of these three pieces in 2008 for Jeff Boehmer. The year before, I had composed a set of seven rather esoteric pieces for him, which did not ignite in him a love for modern music. In response, I focused my ideas into highlighting the lyricism and expansive range (both in notes and dynamics) of the clarinet and produced these Melodies. When I came to JMU in 2009, I presented a revised version of these pieces on a student composers recital. Since then, I have revised the pieces further and present them today in what (I hope) will be their final form.
The inspiration for the work comes from the music of early to mid-20th century French composers, including Satie, Messiaen , Poulenc, and Milhaud. Though my intention was to model each movement after a specific composer, as I revised the Melodies, the evidence of the individual composers’ influences dissipated. Each movement now contains a suggestion of the French composers, but the prevailing style is my own.