B047EE2D-6DA2-43CE-85A3-EF671C10B62F

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IDB047EE2D-6DA2-43CE-85A3-EF671C10B62F
TitlecodeR00901
Title NameNocturne
Marketing CopyNocturne or ‘night piece’ for Clarinet and String Orchestra is a reflective and quiet work in 3 movements—Canto, Tarantella and Appassionato.
InstrumentationB-flat Clarinet, Piano Reduction from String Orchestra
Commission(not set)
Dedication(not set)
Program NotesNocturne for Clarinet and String Orchestra is essentially a reflective and quiet work. These qualities are characteristic of how I envision a nocturne, or 'night piece.'

"Canto" is a single-line melody framed by background sounds (including tappings) and echoes of itself. The clarinet theme is often answered by all of the strings in close stretti, thereby creating a blurred effect, perhaps the effect of playing or singing a melody out-of-doors at night, generation reverberations amid ambient sounds.

"Tarantella" is a light-hearted treatment of the familiar 6/8 dance. The motion of the tarantella is often halted abruptly and divided into contrasting fragments. The clarinet, which does not appear until the tarantella has amply established itself in the strings, arrives as a devilish creature, mocking and toying with the strings. His playing is often marked 'obnoxiously' or 'impudently.' The strings, snapping their bows at him, reprimand and ultimately silence his rude behavior.

"Appassionato" is a through-composed movement with numerous changes in mood, all contributing to a love song. The opening section is gentle and textural, perhaps harkening back to the "Canto." This is followed by an ebb-and-flow of the music. It is often rising in intensity and then resolving into peaceful cantabile passages. The closing section brings back 'sighting' motives (descending semi-tone or whole-tone appoggiaturas -- rising and falling thirds) reminiscent of the opening, but now presented in the strings as well as the clarinet. This movement often contrasts intense/passionate moments with those that are tender/peaceful.

Gwyneth Walker
Title Brand2
Year Composed1991
Copyright Number(not set)
Copyright Year(not set)
Duration17
Ensemble Size2
Date Created2008-10-31 20:31:50.000000
Date Updated2025-09-30 20:31:50
Inhouse Note(not set)
Bsc Code(not set)
Text Author(not set)
Premier Performance Memo-Renae Barkman. 04 Apr 95.
Recording Credits(not set)
Review(not set)
Awards(not set)
Title Category13
Title Movements(not set)
Title Grade(not set)
Set Series ID(not set)
Title Instrument Category TextClarinet
Title Sub Category Text(not set)
Title Sub Category99
Title Instrument Header90
Title Grade Text(not set)
Clean Urlnocturne-r00901