Two Pieces for Clarinet

The Two Pieces for Clarinet are short solo works, which both have animal themes.

The Caterpillar centres around a triplet phrase, reflecting the fact that caterpillars have three pairs of legs. The phrase is repeated numerous times, at different pitches, and with varying dynamics. The clarinet’s ability to easily play wide intervals is exploited, and full range of the instrument has been utilised. The piece is also quite fragmented, which fits with the segmented nature of a caterpillar’s body.

The Mischievous Snake depicts a snake charmer who has lost control of their reptile. In the music, the tempo changes regularly, as the snake slithers slowly, and then speeds up at any moment. Time signature changes further emphasise this unpredictability. In addition, a mix of articulations portraying the many sides of a snake’s character. The choice of scale, and the frequent trills are typical of the music associated with snake charming, and the timbre of the clarinet is ideal for this style.

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