Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble (Ticheli)

From Wind Repertory Project
Frank Ticheli

Frank Ticheli


General Info

Year: 2010
Duration: c. 21:25
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Manhattan Beach Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $395.00   |   Score Only - $95.00


Movements

1. Rhapsody for George – 6:40
2. Song for Aaron – 6:50
3. Riffs for Lenny – 6:50


Instrumentation

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

  • Bass Drum
  • Bongos
  • Brake Drum
  • Flexitones
  • Glockenspiel
  • Marimba
  • Pedal Bass Drum
  • Ratchet
  • Ride Cymbal
  • Slapstick
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal (2)
  • Tambourine
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Vibra-slap
  • Wood Block
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Frank Ticheli’s Concerto for Clarinet takes inspiration from Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin. It is demanding for the band and wildly demanding for the soloist. The first and third movements feature endlessly energetic rhythms and shifting textures with no melodies (you won’t miss them at all). The second movement is a beautiful hymn, tranquil and evocative.

- Program Note by David Branter for the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble


I had been hoping to compose a clarinet concerto for years, and so I was delighted when a commission offer came my way from Swedish-American clarinetist Hakan Rosengren. His fiery virtuosity, combined with his poignantly beautiful sound, had a direct influence on my creative decisions throughout the work.

The concerto's three movements are composed as tributes to three 20th-century American icons: George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, and Leonard Bernstein.

The first movement, Rhapsody for George,(after a wink to the famous clarinet solo – with thanks to the Gershwin estate for approving this) is built largely from chromatic, jazzy, relentless flurries of 16th notes, volleyed back and forth between the soloist and the ensemble. This high-speed game is intensified by a walking bass line, jazzy syncopations, and heavy backbeats that come and go at will.

The second movement, Song for Aaron, evokes the gentle, open-aired quality sometimes heard in Copland's slow movements. If the listener notices a song-like quality here, it may be because it was originally composed for voice (An American Dream, for soprano and orchestra, mv't. 6). Thus, this movement is an adaptation of my earlier work, but altered significantly to suit the unique lyrical traits of the clarinet.

While composing the final movement, Riffs for Lenny, I imagined Bernstein perched on a pulpit (a podium?), passionately preaching about Music as a powerful and necessary force for humanity. In a sense, I pay tribute to his lifelong enthusiasm, unleashed through his conducting, composing, performing, teaching, and in countless other ways. Like the opening movement, Riffs for Lenny is somewhat jazzy, but now in a more, sultry, gospel-like manner. It swoons, sighs, seduces, and then suddenly takes off in double-time, dancing all the way.

- Program Note by composer


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of Iowa (Iowa City) Symphony Band (Bruce Moss, conductor; Jorge Montilla, clarinet) - 1 March 2023 (88th Annual ABA National Convention)
  • University of Southern California (Los Angeles) Thornton Wind Ensemble (Sharon Lavery, conductor; Alex Chang, clarinet) - 10 February 2023
  • University of Iowa (Iowa City) Symphony Band (Richard Mark Heidel, conductor; Jorge Montilla, clarinet) - 6 October 2022
  • University of South Florida (Tampa) Wind Ensemble (Marc Sosnowchik, conductor; Calvin Falwell, clarinet) - 14 November 2021
  • University of Oregon (Eugene) Wind Ensemble (Dennis Llanás, conductor; Wonkak Kim, clarinet) – 11 March 2020
  • University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Wind Symphony (John R. Stewart, conductor; Jennifer Fraley, clarinet) – 22 November 2019
  • Southeastern Louisiana University (Hammond) Wind Symphony (Derek Stoughton, conductor; Victor Drescher, clarinet) – 30 September 2019
  • Wartburg College (Waverly, Iowa) Wind Ensemble (Craig A. Hancock, conductor; Eric Wachmann, clarinet) – 14 April 2019
  • University of Southern California (Los Angeles) Thornton Wind Ensemble (Frank Ticheli, conductor; Donghoon Paik, Max Offerkuch, Nicholas Davies, clarinets) – 23 February 2019 (CBDNA 2019 National Conference, Tempe, Ariz.)
  • Vandegrift High School (Austin, Tx.) Wind Ensemble (Mike Howard, conductor) - 15 February 2019 (2019 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C. (Frank Ticheli, conductor; Christopher Grant, clarinet) - 27 July 2018 (San Antonio, Tx.)
  • Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, N.C.) Wind Ensemble (Margaret Underwood, conductor; Shannon Thompson, clarinet) – 9 February 2018
  • United States Coast Guard Band (New London, Conn.) (Adam Williamson, conductor; Christopher Howard, clarinet) – 28 January 2018
  • West Chester University (Penn.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew Yozviak, conductor; Karen Dannessa, Clarinet) – 10 December 2017
  • University of California, Santa Barbara, Wind Ensemble (FRank Ticheli, conductor; Paul Bambach, clarinet) – 1 June 2017
  • Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Wind Ensemble (Damon S. Talley, conductor) – 1 December 2016
  • Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble (Eric Hewitt, conductor; Michael Norsworthy, clarinet) – 29 April 2016
  • University of British Columbia (Vancouver) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Robert Taylor, conductor; Liam Hockley, clarinet) – 2 April 2016
  • Michigan State University (East Lansing) Wind Symphony (Kevin Sedatole, conductor; Guy Yehuda, clarinet) – 24 March 2016
  • Rutgers University (New Brunswick, N.J.) Wind Ensemble (Kraig Williams, conductor) – 11 March 2016 (CBDNA 2016 Eastern Division Conference, New London, Conn.)
  • Tara Winds (Marietta, Ga.) (John Culvahouse, conductor; Julian Bliss, clarinet) - 19 December 2015 (2015 Midwest Clinic)


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Frank Ticheli website Accessed 6 July 2020
  • Ticheli, F. (2011). Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble [score]. Manhattan Beach Music: Brooklyn, N.Y.