Thom Ritter GeorgeSONATA FOR CLARINET AND PIANO, CN 241 (1967)
PROGRAM NOTES
Thom Ritter George's SONATA FOR CLARINET AND PIANO was composed in the space of a month (September 20, 1967 to October 22, 1967) while the composer was living in Washington, D.C. The piece is dedicated to clarinetist James East and his wife, the pianist Phyllis East. The Easts worked closely with the composer during the writing of the SONATA, and they played the first performance on October 29, 1967 in Washington's Barker Hall.
The essential character of the score is lyric. This can be heard from the start when softly arpeggiated chords in the piano accompany the singing principal theme played by the clarinet. Interestingly, both the principal themes of the first movement ("Allegro moderato") are of a lyric nature. Contrasting, forceful music is reserved for the development section.
To open the second movement ("Adagio ma non troppo"), the piano presents a theme reminiscent of a simple folk song. Five variations on this theme follow. The clarinet weaves in and out of the piano texture, sometimes taking the melody and sometimes providing accompaniment to the piano's song.
In lieu of the traditional scherzo, and intermezzo-type movement ("Cantilena: Allegretto") appears as the third major section of the SONATA. Here, the composer explores the clarinet's rich and dark chalumeau tones in the bottom part of its range. The rhythmic placement of groups of three notes on top of four notes gives the music much of its flavor.
Although not labeled as such, the final movement ("Allegro molto quasi presto") is a tarantella, a fast Italian dance in 6/8 meter. Still there are moments of lyricism amidst brilliant technical passages for the clarinet. Near the conclusion, the piano brings back the theme of the second movement in its original slow tempo while the clarinet continues its mercurial tarantella figurations. A coda ("Presto") completes this rondo-finale and brings the SONATA to a stirring conclusion.
(TRGcm:1995.06.29)
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