Michael Blake
CLARINET QUINTET
Bardic Edition BDE605
Scored for basset clarinet (or clarinet in A) and string quartet
This piece is intended to be played on classical instruments, which, whilst producing a generally smaller sound than their modern counterparts, give a greater purity and focus of tone quality. The classical clarinet is made from boxwood and has a smaller bore and mouthpiece than a modern instrument, along with fewer than half the number of keys. This last characteristic means that many notes are achieved with the use of ‘forked’ fingerings which tend to be much more flexible in terms of intonation than ‘keyed’ fingerings; hence the quartertonal possibilities are greater. Nevertheless, performance on modern instruments is also possible.
Duration 12 minutes
Score and parts included.
This piece is intended to be played on classical instruments, which, whilst producing a generally smaller sound than their modern counterparts, give a greater purity and focus of tone quality. The classical clarinet is made from boxwood and has a smaller bore and mouthpiece than a modern instrument, along with fewer than half the number of keys. This last characteristic means that many notes are achieved with the use of ‘forked’ fingerings which tend to be much more flexible in terms of intonation than ‘keyed’ fingerings; hence the quartertonal possibilities are greater. Nevertheless, performance on modern instruments is also possible.
Duration 12 minutes
Score and parts included.
