Solo de Concours

André Messager

General Info

Year: 1899 / 1967
Duration: c. 5:00
Difficulty: III/V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Kendor
Cost: Score and Parts Out of print.

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.

Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo B-flat Clarinet
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
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 Cornet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

André Messager (1853-1929) composed Solo de Concours for Clarinet in 1899, as a Paris Conservatoire Contest piece.

Composed in three sections, the cheerful first part contains triplet figures by the clarinet that can easily be heard over the orchestra. The second part has a strong French melody that can be heard as an exchange between the clarinet and the orchestra. A cadenza followed by trills ends this section and leads to the final part, where the clarinet stands out from the orchestra, with a rich melodic energy.

- Program Note from score

Solo de Concours (1899) (“contest solo”) was written to be performed at the annual contest at the Paris Conservatory. Each year original contest compositions are written for the purpose of both testing and taxing the students. Integrating tempi changes, accentuations, timbre, and technique, this brilliant solo is an exciting piece of music for both performer and audience, showcasing musicianship at its finest. A good performance should prove musically satisfying to all concerned ... the soloist, the band and the audience.

- Program Note by the Aledo Middle School Honor Winds concert program, 20 December 2013

Media

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State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Mansfield (Penn.) University Concert Wind Ensemble (Adam F. Brennan, conductor; Sydni Miller, Clarinet) - 20 November 2021
Virginia Tech (Blacksburg) Wind Ensemble (Jonathan Caldwell, conductor; Joshua Gates, clarinet) – 29 April 2018
Peabody Conservatory (Baltimore, Md.) Preparatory Wind Orchestra (Elijah Wirth, conductor; Katie Lee,clarinet) – 13 May 2017
Grand View University (Des Moines, IA) Wind Ensemble (Mark Doerffel, conductor; Kariann Voigts, clarinet) - 17 April 2016
Callanwolde Concert Band (Atlanta Ga.) (Raymond Handfield, conductor; Mark Ozanick, clarinet) - 22 March 2015
Aledo (Tx.) Middle School Honor Winds (Ryan Johnstone, conductor; Victoria Luperi, clarine) – 20 December 2013 (2013 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Solo de Concours (1899/1967)

Resources

None discovered thus far.