bass clarinet and organ (2006)
details
Duration: 10 minutes
Commissioned by: Duo Levent with support from The Netherland-America Foundation
Premiere: October 23, 2009
Duo Levent at Festival Cervantino, Guanajuato, Mexico
program note
Never say never. A long time ago I said I would never write music for organ. It seemed impossible; there are multiple keyboards involved, as well as pedals and infinite combinations of instrument sounds, not to mention the fact that a good pipe organ in proper working order is really difficult to find. Then to consider adding a bass clarinet to the mix? Who does that?!
Duo Levent does that and hearing them perform made me love the combination of the two instruments. They blend together so beautifully, with a richness and depth that continues to surprise me. It was bound to happen is a musical game of leapfrog; sections of bubbling music passed between the two instruments in a free-flowing dialogue of expanding and contracting tempos and rhythms.
The composition It was bound to happen was commissioned by Duo Levent with support from The Netherland-America Foundation. It is dedicated to Harry Sparnaay and Silvia Castillo, with friendship and affection.