Clarinet Concerto (Sparke)

Philip Sparke

General Info

Year: 2003
Duration: c. 14:15
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Anglo Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $282.00 | Score Only - $38.00

Movements

1. Giocoso - 4:26
2. Adagio - 7:34
3. Molto vivo - 4:21

Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bass Drum
Crash Cymbal
Drum Kit
Glockenspiel
Marimba (optional)
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Tam-tam
Triangle
Tubular Bells
Vibraphone
Wind Chime
Wood Block
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Clarinet soloist Linda Merrick is a long-time friend of the composer Philip Sparke and is married to fellow composer Martin Ellerby. As part of a dynamic and forward-looking Ph.D. thesis on works for clarinet and concert band, Linda has researched the existing repertoire in addition to commissioning several new concerti from leading British composers, including Martin Ellerby and Nigel Clarke.

A fascinating part of the thesis described different composers' attitudes to being asked to change details of the finished piece to make them either technically or musically more appropriate. Philip Sparke usually waits until a piece is fully finished before presenting it to anyone, but in this case Linda asked to be kept informed of the complete process of composition, including material which did not make it into the final work. Throughout the process, the composer sent sketches to the soloist, who advised on technical difficulties and suggested articulation changes.

The original concept was for a suite of short movements, each with its own character, but by the time the first movement was complete, it was clear that a conventional three-movement format was going to work out better.

The opening movement contains much syncopation and is almost rag-like in style. The slower second movement explores initially the chalumeau register of the clarinet in a theme that is later taken up by the band whilst the soloist weaves a filigree descant. This leads straight into the third movement, which is almost bee-bop in style and shows off the jazzier side of the clarinet.

- Program note by publisher

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: VanderCook College of Music Symphonic Band (Charles Menghini, conductor) - 2007 Midwest Clinic

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minn.) Band (Timothy Mahr, conductor; Aaron Linde, clarinet) – 9 February 2020
Jeju Seogwipo Wind Orchestra (Korea) (Danh Pham, conductor; Seongheon Jeong, clarinet) - 20 August 2019

Works for Winds by This Composer

Atlantic Odyssey (2010)
Ballad for Benny (2001)
The Bandwagon (2004)
Barn Dance and Cowboy Hymn (1985)
Beethoven's Greeting (2008)
Between the Two Rivers (2003)
Big Sky Overture (2002)
Blazon (2010)
A Bluegrass Overture (2017)
Bohemian Rhapsody as arranger) (1975/2011)
Bolero (as arranger) (1928/2011)
Cambridge Intrada (2007)
The Camelot Chronicles (2007)
Carnival (1997)
Carol of the Shepherds (2001)
Celebration (1993)
The Centurion (1988/2000)
Chorale and Variations (2004)
Clarinet Calypso (2003)
Clarinet Concerto (2003)
Colditz March (as arranger) (1972/2014)
Colorado Springs (2007)
A Colour Symphony (2015)
Concert Prelude (1976/2000)
Concertino Classico (2010)
Dance Movements (1995)
Dance of the Whale (2013/2014), from Bestiarium
David of the White Rock (as arranger) (1741/2003)
Deserts (2008)
Diamond Concerto (2012)
Diversions (1999)
Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes (as arranger) (1790/2011)
The Earl of Oxford's Marche (as arranger) (1581-91/2006)
Earth, Water, Sun, Wind (2000)
An English Sea Song Suite (2006)
Euphonium Concerto No. 2 (2005)
Exultation (2010)
Fanfare for Saint Cecilia (2008)
Fanfare, Romance and Finale (1990)
Fantasy for Euphonium (1995)
A Festive Tribute (J.S. Bach) (2007)
Fiesta! (1998)
Fiesta de la Vida (2005/2006)
Five Festive Fanfares (2000)
- Victory Fanfare
Flowerdale (2002/2010)
Flying the Breeze (2002/2004)
The Four Noble Truths (2003/2004)
Four Norfolk Dances (2001)
Gemini Concerto (2017/2019)
Girl with the Flaxen Hair, The (as arranger) (1910/2007)
Hail the Dragon! (2010)
Harlequin (2004)
Hanover Festival (2000)
A Huntingdon Celebration (2003)
In Memoriam: For the Fallen (2015)
Infinity and Beyond... (2001)
Invictus (2001)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (as arranger) (1723/2004)
Jubilee Overture (1983)
Jubiloso (2008/2009)
A Klezmer Karnival (2004)
The Land of the Long White Cloud (1980/1988)
Letter from Home (2008)
A Lindisfarne Rhapsody (1998)
The Long Day Closes (as arranger) (1868/2007)
MacArthur Park (as arranger) (1967/2005)
Madrigalum (2006)
Måndalen Landscapes (2004)
Manhattan (2004)
Marchissimo (2004)
Mary's Boy Child (as arranger) (1956/2003)
Masquerade (2003)
Merry-Go-Round (2002)
Morning Song (2002)
Mountain Song (1990/1993)
Music for a Festival (1985)
Music of the Spheres (2004)
Navigation Inn (2000)
North Hills Fantasy (2021)
Once in Royal David’s City (as arranger) (1849/2004)
Orient Express (1987/1994)
Out of the Darkness, Into the Light (2003)
Overture for Woodwinds (2000)
The Painted Desert (2004)
Panis Angelicus (as arranger) (1872/2001)
Pantomime (1988/1996)
Pastime with Good Company (as arranger) (15--?/2005)
Pentangle (2021)
The Pioneers (2005)
Portrait of a City (2002)
Postcard from Singapore (2004)
A Quiet Moment (2007)
Reflections (2011)
Reflections on an Old Japanese Folk Song (2015)
Rhythm and Blues (arr. Wheeler) (1986/2012)
The Roaring Forties (2008)
Sailing with the Tall Ships (2012)
Salute to a Hero (2009)
A Savannah Symphony (2010)
Scenes from a Comedy (2007)
The Seasons (2005)
Shalom! (2001)
Sierra Nevada (2006)
Sinfonietta No. 1 (1990)
Sinfonietta No. 2 (1992)
Sinfonietta No. 3 (2001)
Sinfonietta No. 4 (2012)
Sinfonietta No. 5 (2021)
Sleepers, Awake! (as transcriber) (1731/2002)
Slipstream (1987/1990)
Snow Valley Sleigh Ride (2007)
Song and Dance (arr. Brand) (1984/2009)
Song of Friendship (2017)
The Song of the Bell (2012)
Sounds of the Saint Lawrence (2008)
Spirit of the Sequoia (2004)
St. Paul's Suite (as arranger) (1912-1913/2017)
Strathcarron (2002)
Suite from Hymn of the Highlands (2002)
Summer Isles (2002/2006)
The Sun Will Rise Again (2011)
Sunrise at Angel's Gate (2001)
Symphonic Metamorphosis (2007)
Symphony No. 1. See: Earth, Water, Sun, Wind
Symphony No. 2. See: A Savannah Symphony
Symphony No. 3. See: A Colour Symphony
Tales of the River Wye (2007)
Tallis' Canon (arr. Sparke) (/2012)
A Tameside Overture (1989)
Te Deum Prelude (as arranger) (1688-1698/2001)
Ten Chorale Preludes (as arranger) (1914/2002)
Theatre Music (1989)
Three English Folk Song Miniatures (2013)
Three Extraordinary Journeys (2006)
Three Klezmer Miniatures (2009)
Three Washington Statues (2015)
To a New Dawn (2000)
To a Wild Rose (as arranger) (1896/2002)
Tokyo Triptych (2007)
Trombone Concerto (2007)
Tuba Concerto (2007)
The Unknown Journey (2014)
Valerius Variations (2005)
Variations on a Fourth (2019/2022)
Veni Immanuel (2003)
Watch Your Step! (2017)
A Weekend in New York (2008)
The White Rose (2002)
Wind in the Reeds (2017)
Wilten Festival Overture (1999)
A Winter's Tale (2010)
Year of the Dragon (1984/1985)
Year of the Dragon (2017 edition) (1984/1985/2017)
A Yorkshire Overture (1991)

Resources

Perusal score (in Attachments)
Philip Sparke website
Sparke, P. (2003). Clarinet Concerto: For Concert Band [score]. Anglo Music Press: Wembley, Eng.