Solistice - A Clarinet Concertino

When I started to write Solistice, my first intention was to write a piece for solo clarinet and strings, and I saw it first as a practice to get back to composing again. But little by little, writing it, I realized that I still had it in me.
With the creativity used to write articles, essays, Atomicast. and everything else, I could finally see where it all led, and it wasn’t what I had believed it to be. It was so much better, and as it took me by surprise, I knew this was my true art coming out. And I couldn't be prouder of myself.

First Movement

The movement starts with some chords, giving the tone to the movement. Then the Clarinet enters in its lowest register and climbs via a glissando (not a Rhapsody In Blue, Gershwin glissando), signaling that this is my World. The rhapsodic character of the movement is intentional, as I wanted it to be both a fun and challenging piece for Alessandra to play.
As you can hear and see from Alessandra's performance at Ash House in the UK, it works so well that the part can be played as a solo piece. She came to Sweden to meet with me, and we worked on it to be played as a solo piece for Clarinet.
For me as a composer, to work with the interpreter so closely was an honor and such a fun experience for me. And I know what Alessandra got with her was a new trust in herself as a soloist.
While in Stockholm, she also got the two remaining movements of the concertino, as I had just finished them.

Second Movement

The second movement is an Adagio in 5/4 with an intense cadenza illustrating spring birds singing frantically in the morning. It begins with a Viola solo accompanied by pizzicato strings that lead to the clarinet entrance. It Mellows down, and the clarinet starts its cadenza on top of the strings. It leaves the Clarinet alone to showcase its wide range. The cadenza is written in a rhapsodic style, almost like it's improvised. It ends with the clarinet playing a scale with a trill from the cadenza.

Third Movement

Listening back to it, I can hear that my influence here is Benjamin Britten's Simple Symphony. The beat is 6/8, and the strings play pizzicato, making it a fun piece to listen to. I wanted it to be a carefree feeling, with fun and games. I continue to let the structure be free and rhapsodic.

Solistice is my first concertino in a series of many planned. But more about this later on.

For me, Solistice symbolizes the sun, and the jay that's for me is returning to composing again.