Fred Jacobowitz asked me to consider writing something he could play with his wife Bonnie Thron. He noted that there are several couples in the area of clarinetists married to cellists, so it seemed like a very good idea. So, this piece is dedicated to Fred and Bonnie. There were originally three movements, but after the premiere Bonnie and Fred asked me to add a finale.

Any of the four movements can stand alone in performance; the first and last are especially well-suited for this.

About Ananda Sonata

Ananda-Eric Pritchard asked me to write a violin sonata for his recitals early in 2008, and as I had none in my catalog, it sounded like a very good idea. One of my early compositions was a sonata for violin and piano, written during my first year of college (1973 at Eastman), but it was immature and derivative and has not survived. This work, on the other hand, is fully mature and ready for consumption.

I'm not by nature a programmatic composer, so the first movement is not intended to have a literal title; however I've had a pretty tough time much of my life and in some way, a good deal of my music cannot help but reflect some of this. After I had written most of the first movement that it seemed right to call it "Hard Times". The second movement is intended as a kind of mantra; quite a few of my works are best heard with a repeated series of words mentally set to the music, and this is no exception. Since Ananda is involved with Sufism, it was most appropriate to use Allah as the mantra. And the last movement started off in 12 but then I knocked off a note leading to 11 per measure, then decided to continue the prime number meter idea and ended up with most meters in 5, 7, 11, and 13. In addition there are some fancy compound rhythms and some tricky playing, especially for the piano. The technical requirements for the first movement are moderate and the middle is easy, but the last movement does require real proficiency. If this results in only the first or second movements, or both, being performed at a future concert, this is perfectly acceptable.

About Clarinet Sextet

I have written two chamber works previous to this including clarinet; Quartet for a New Beginning, for clarinet, violin, cello and piano, and Grand Serenade. These combinations worked well for the kind of music that I write. While most of my chamber music includes piano, sometimes I like to get away from it for a bit. At first I intended to write a clarinet quintet for the usual clarinet and string quartet, but from the first few measures the music insisted on an extra cello. So-I went with the flow.

For no particular reason, the tempo markings are all taken from food. Except for the first movement's "Adagio con queso", none give an idea as to tempo, requiring musicians to refer to the metronome markings, which I much prefer.

1. I Overture (Allegro) from Grand Serenade
2. II Romantic Interlude (Largo) from Grand Serenade
3. III Serious Scherzo (Capo di tutti Capi slow Trio Tempo I) from Grand Serenade
4. IV Grand Finale with Loose Canons (Allegro con brouhaha) from Grand Serenade
5. I Hard Times (Allegro non troppo) from Ananda Sonata
6. II Allah (Adagio alla mantra) from Ananda Sonata
7. III Prime Times (Eighly Eccentric) from Ananda Sonata
8. I A Small Still Voice (Adagio con queso) from Clarinet Sextet
9. II Faster Higher Louder (Paprika) from Clarinet Sextet
10. III Curious Interlude (Oregano I Oregano II) from Clarinet Sextet
11. IV A Fearful Earful (Gorgonzola) from Clarinet Sextet

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 9/15/2016
Bill Robinson lives in North Carolina USA

Tagged as: Classical, Contemporary, Neoclassical, Instrumental, Cello, Clarinet, Classical Piano, Violin

1. The Melodious Birde - Keyboard Music By William Byrd by Colin Booth: solo harpsichord music
2. Messe a l'usage des Couvents by Craig Hanson: exquisitely moving Baroque organ music
3. A Solo Piano Christmas by Chad Lawson: Multi-award winning pianist and composer who is not afraid to put his hat in anything
4. Vivaldi Concertos on 8-string guitar by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
5. Toujours l'Amour by Music of the Spheres: small Baroque chamber ensemble
6. Brian Bunker Trio by Brian Bunker Trio: A riotous romp through the worlds of jazz, classical and rock
7. Ciaconna by Ernst Stolz: Renaissance and Baroque beautiful music revealed by Dutch gambist and multi-instrumentalist
8. JS Bach Trios on Guitar by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
9. In a Garden So Green, Lute Music of Scotland by Voices of Music: Lilting Renaissance & Baroque vocal interpretations
10. Telemann Trios on Guitar by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
11. Bach and His Teachers by Paul Boehnke: Heartfelt music for harpsichord
12. The Dawn of Joy by Shira Kammen: early folk and celtic music.
13. Louis Couperin Harpsichord Music by Colin Booth: solo harpsichord music
14. Amazing Grace by David Modica: layers of lush acoustic guitar
15. The Water is Wide by David Modica: layers of lush acoustic guitar
16. Cerulean Blue by Robert Otto: Ambient Electronic and Neoclassical Soundscapes
17. Tau Ceti by Robert Otto: Ambient Electronic and Neoclassical Soundscapes
18. Around the World by Monom: ethnotronica, World music, electronic, downtempo, ambient techno, dystopia, cinematic, far-east, Australia and Europe
19. Telemann on Guitar by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
20. Vol 1 - Well Tempered Clavier Book 2 'Flat Keys' by Katherine Roberts Perl: Bach on the harpsichord - poetic and expressive

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