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Clarinet Compositions

The Bennu bird of Egyptian mythology was the prototype for the various legends of a firebird that are seen in cultures around the world. In fact, the famous Greek myth of the Phoenix was adapted directly from tales of the Egyptian Bennu. This piece unites a collection of varying components from assorted myths of the firebird’s lifecycle, showcasing all that has developed from the Egyptian bird of resurrection, the Bennu.

The first movement explores the bird’s birth from ashes. Beginning with a reference to the Infernal Dance of Stravinsky’s monumental ballet The Firebird, the music quickly moves in a vastly different direction. Percussion sparkling over a bed of trills creates a magical atmosphere through which the solo clarinet emerges, at first uneasy as a hatchling bird, but soon energized with a pounding rhythmic drive. At its peak, the energy dissipates into mystical clouds as the firebird takes flight and the music fades away.

Many firebird myths state that the bird’s cry is a singularly beautiful song. The second movement seeks to represent this, highlighting the beauty and lyricism of the solo clarinet over a series of varying textural accompaniment intensities from a lone vibraphone to a clarinet and saxophone duet, a timpani roll to a full-bodied brass presentation of the melody. Following a cadenza from the soloist, the full ensemble plays an expansive elaboration of the original song. From this, the solo clarinet descends gently to a place of calm and serenity.

The fate of the Phoenix bird is famously death and rebirth by fire. The third movement is a frenzied build, referencing themes from the first two movements along the way before exploding into a roaring resurrection inferno.

This concerto was commissioned by Alexander Fiterstein, the California State University at Northridge Wind Ensemble. The wind ensemble version of this work was premiered on August 5, 2011 by Alexander Fiterstein and the California State University at Northridge Wind Ensemble, Lawrence Stoffel conducting.

Duration: ca. 22'

Download a pdf of the wind ensemble score here.