Duo concertante für Klarinette und Violoncello

"Duo concertante for Clarinet and Cello was composed for Austrian clarinetist Ernst Ottensamer and Austrian cellist Franz Bartolomey. This three-movement work is a challenging, yet rewarding piece for both performers. This interesting pairing of clarinet and cello exhibits clever interchange between the two instruments. The parts are idiomatic with particularly well-marked articulations in the cello part for clear bowings and phrasing. The overall mood of the piece is serious with each movement depicting its own character. Movement I begins with a dark, expressive Lento section with imitative and fugal writing. An energetic Allegro follows displaying interesting interplay between the two parts as well as ncorporating imitative features from the Lento section. Movement II, Lento, is very atmospheric, expressing serious moods and quick dynamic shifts. The clarinet part is disjunct, exhibiting long, floating phrases and erratic, jolting grace notes leaping into the altissimo register. The cello part is given clear directions from the composer for delicately soft sound and specified strings to create desired darker colors. Movement III, Molto vivace, is an intense jagged movement with pointed motives interwoven with recurring fugal material from the first movement bringing the whole piece together. The parts are technically challenging for both instruments with rapid altissimo clarinet passages and significant high treble writing in the cello part. In general, this is a piece for advanced, professional players. It is demanding and musically complex, requiring mature, skilled performers." Janice L. Minor THE CLARINET, June 2014