Clarinet Sonata

Hi Fred,

At least some, if not most, of the drum staves could be one line if you have only one instrument per staff. In any case, you could hide inactive staves, and that would give you less clutter.

Let's just both move to the tropics and we can both have fun watching the curious neighbors come out to see the parade.

Cold here, too. And I don't like it.

best,
mgj

Quite a few interesting ideas, but I feel you need to look at the overall shape of phrases - and especially where phrases begin and end - it is often quite difficult to tell! One other thing - my composition teacher always told me to write for what is possible - some of your recommended tempi would be almost impossible for virtuoso performers.

Having said all that, I do like some of the comtrasting ideas you have used. In addition, the sheer scale of the piece suggests a lot of work to get all those notes sorted out. So overall, interesting ideas in part, but a somewhat confused structure.

Now I shall duck for cover!

Dr. Kalve,

Many thanks for your helpful comments. I'm afraid I don't think much (consciously) about phraseology when I'm writing--that is mostly a process of getting on paper what I have imagined; so I certainly wouldn't quibble with an analysis that finds it faulty. I can see, too, why there might be structural confusion. I tend to think in standard forms, but I also tend to make departures, usually after hesitating at first, when intuition tells me I would like the piece better if I did so. My only criterion for judging a piece is my listening enjoyment, and that standard could easily produce source material for a critical field day for anyone who doesn't enjoy it. But at my age, it seems more important to get the imagined stuff written before the years run out.

I am really glad you brought up the playability issue. The clarinetist I had in mind was as much wizard as virtuoso, but the instrument itself has limitations, and I have found several places where I will have to do some re-writing, for both instruments.

all best,
mgj