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Study in Canon No.6 Opus 56 arr. clarinet in B Flat, bass clarinet and piano

This version has been transposed down a semitone from the original key of B to Bb. T. Kirchner, arranged the six Schumann’s Studies in Canon expandi Read More...

This version has been transposed down a semitone from the original key of B to Bb. T. Kirchner, arranged the six Schumann’s Studies in Canon expanding the original concept into music to be enjoyed by a chamber group. This is a quiet slow movement in reflective mood with a compositional approach that is vocal in style and reminiscent of Bach’s 4 part chorale writing although with chromatic romantic harmony. The melody is not always in the top line and as in 4 part chorale writing it is the tenor line that often needs to be prominent. The second middle section is presented as a fugal exposition. The final section is introduced by a dotted rhythm as an upbeat in bar 32 and returns to the mood and style of the first section although this final section has more contrast and is more dramatic. The realisation plays back at 60 quarter note beats to the minute with the tempo is marked adagio in the score. This is a challenging movement from the music reading point of view because of the chromaticism and tied notes. For those wishing to see how the ornaments in the realisation are played refer to the video score on the PlentyMusicCo YouTube channel. Simply click the link on the PlentyMusic home page and search for the score. Trills begin on the note. There are many arrangements of this particular movement and the music editor suggests that along with Schumann’s other Studies in Canon they are ideal works to introduce intermediate level players to chamber music playing. Accompaniments are available enabling the clarinet in Bb player to explore and develop their ensemble skills. Four accompaniments are available in the tempo range from 58 to 64 quarter beats to the minute. Do advise the Plenty Music Office if you are playing with a bass clarinet and require just the piano sounding in the accompaniment. Close

Rondeau from Sonata Concertata Opus 61 arr. clarinet in Bb and piano

This movement is an arrangement of music that was originally composed for the violin and guitar. The third movement of Niccolo Paganini’s Sonata Con Read More...

This movement is an arrangement of music that was originally composed for the violin and guitar. The third movement of Niccolo Paganini’s Sonata Concertata essentially has the form and mood of a rondo which are typically found as the final movement of a concerto. This is an appealing uplifting joyful movement with challenges for both the solo player and accompanist. The realisation plays back at 96 dotted quarter notes to the minute and the movement can be performed in a tempo range from 88 to 104 dotted quarter notes to the minute. There is still much repertoire to be discovered and shared from existing music and Paganini’s compositions for violin and guitar are part of this legacy. Legato playing is to be encouraged and solo instrument players need to consider how they play the sections where the piano accompaniment has the dominant musical material. There is opportunity to perhaps ornament and decorate the solo instrument line. The sectional structure of the rondeau encourages good practice strategies and as the repetitive element is strong it makes it an ideal performance piece for the player seeking to gain experience and confidence in this aspect of their playing. The repeat of the first section has been retained in the realisation and music score but could be omitted in a performance. The use of the sustaining pedal is to encouraged in the accompanying piano part although pedal markings are not indicated in the score. So much can be learnt about playing difficult pieces by playing easy pieces and this movement is a case in point. This ensemble piece has been included in the PlentyMusic Concert Hall area of study. There is the option of slowing down at the end although this is probably only appropriate when the tempo is 100 or more beats to the minute. There are some lovely Spanish music references through the use of the phrygian mode in the section from bars 76 to bar 84. Paganini (1782 – 1840) is a unique and quite captivating figure in the history of music who influenced many romantic composers inspiring many to write for the piano as he did for the violin. His music and particularly his virtuoso approach has been the inspiration for compositions by many other composers including Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov amongst others. He was the outstanding violinist of his age and in addition was an excellent guitarist although his performances on this instrument were shared with friends rather than the public. He also left a teaching legacy as well as compositions and a well documented and renowned performance legacy. Mp3 piano accompaniment files can be downloaded from the PlentyMusic website enabling solo instrument players to enjoy an ensemble music experience. Accompaniment 1 plays at 88 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute, Accompaniment 2 plays at 92 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and Accompaniment 3 plays at 96, Accompaniment 4 plays at 100 and Accompaniment 5 at 104 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The accompaniments are recorded at 256 kbps which should enable them to be played through speakers in a performance context. Please advise the PlentyMusic Office if there is any feedback on this aspect of their use. Close

Study in Canon No. 2 clarinet in B Flat, bass clarinet and piano

Theodor Kirchner was a highly regarded musician, composer and arranger whose career sadly did not live up to expectation because of personal failings. Read More...

Theodor Kirchner was a highly regarded musician, composer and arranger whose career sadly did not live up to expectation because of personal failings. The trio arrangements of Schumann’s Studies in Canon date from 1888. In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb, bass clarinet and piano the imitative and canonic features of the music are very evident in the sharing of the lines between the instruments. The German term «Min innigen ausdruck » meaning with ‘heartfelt expression’ is used to describe the mood of the music at the beginning of the movement although the music editor has favoured the use of Italian terms in the score detail. There are some octave transpositions in the flute part to accommodate the range of the instrument. Parts for the clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet appropriately transposed are appended to the full score. The music editor would like to hear from bass clarinet players as to the practicality of playing the low notes in the score. The Studies in Canon Opus 56 of Schumann are excellent pieces for the music student because they refererence music of the past with the chromatic language of the romantic period and are appealing to play. The Opus 56 collection can be appreciated on so many levels and the pieces exist in a number of different arrangements. This is music that re-invents J.S.Bach style than directly imitating or copying it. The playback score or realisation is clearly not as nuanced as a live performance. The texture is straightforward to understand in that there are two melodies exploring the canonic and imitative aspects of the music, a chordal accompaniment and a bass line. The realisation plays at 66 dotted quarter note beats to the minute notes to the with the occasional slowing down or rit. The score detail in place in the sheet music score is particularly relevant to the tonal qualities of modern instruments. In addition to Schumann’s the original composition for pedal piano there are many arrangements of the Opus 56 collection namely Georges Bizet’s for piano duet and Claude Debussy’s for two pianos. The use of the sustaining pedal whilst recommended has not been indicated in the sheet music score. There is also opportunity to explore tempo rubato in a performance. In romantic music this refers to the give and take (speeding up and slowing down) as far as tempo is concerned. The mp3 accompaniment downloads available enable players to enjoy an ensemble music experience playing the clarinet in Bb part as a solo. The piano and bass clarinet sound in the accompaniment. Accompaniment 1 plays at 60 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute, Accompaniment 2 at 63 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute Accompaniment 3 at 66 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and Accompaniment 4 at 69 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. There is a two bar count in at the beginning of the accompaniments. Close

Study in Canon No. 2 clarinet in B Flat, violoncello and piano

Theodor Kirchner was a highly regarded musician, composer and arranger whose career sadly did not live up to expectation because of personal failings. Read More...

Theodor Kirchner was a highly regarded musician, composer and arranger whose career sadly did not live up to expectation because of personal failings. The trio arrangements of Schumann’s Studies in Canon date from 1888. In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb, violoncello and piano the imitative and canonic features of the music are very evident in the sharing of the lines between the instruments. The German term «Min innigen ausdruck » meaning with ‘heartfelt expression’ is used to describe the mood of the music at the beginning of the movement although the music editor has favoured the use of Italian terms in the score detail. There are some octave transpositions in the clarinet in Bb part to assist in keeping to the range of the instrument. Parts for the clarinet in Bb and violoncello are appended to the full score. The Studies in Canon Opus 56 of Schumann are excellent pieces for the music student because they refererence music of the past with the chromatic language of the romantic period and are appealing to play. The Opus 56 collection can be appreciated on so many levels and the pieces exist in a number of different arrangements. This is music that re-invents J.S.Bach style than directly imitating or copying it. The playback score or realisation is clearly not as nuanced as a live performance. The texture is straightforward to understand in that there are two melodies exploring the canonic and imitative aspects of the music, a chordal accompaniment and a bass line. The realisation plays at 63 dotted quarter note beats to the minute notes to the with the occasional slowing down or rit. The score detail in place in the sheet music score is particularly relevant to the tonal qualities of modern instruments. In addition to Schumann’s the original composition for pedal piano there are many arrangements of the Opus 56 collection namely Georges Bizet’s for piano duet and Claude Debussy’s for two pianos. The use of the sustaining pedal whilst recommended has not been indicated in the sheet music score. There is also opportunity to explore tempo rubato in a performance. In romantic music this refers to the give and take (speeding up and slowing down) as far as tempo is concerned. The mp3 accompaniment downloads available enable players to enjoy an ensemble music experience playing the oboe part as a solo. The piano and violoncello sound in the accompaniment. Accompaniment 1 plays at 60 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute, Accompaniment 2 at 63 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute Accompaniment 3 at 66 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and Accompaniment 4 at 69 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. There is a two bar count in featuring the sound of a woodblock. Close

Study in Canon No. 4 clarinet in B Flat, violoncello and piano

Theodor Kirchner was a highly regarded musician, composer and arranger whose career sadly did not live up to expectation simply because of personal fa Read More...

Theodor Kirchner was a highly regarded musician, composer and arranger whose career sadly did not live up to expectation simply because of personal failings. The trio arrangements of Schumann’s Studies in Canon date from 1888. In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb, violoncello and piano the imitative and canonic features of the music are very evident in the sharing of the lines between the instruments. The German word ‘Innig’ which means ‘heartfelt’ is used to describe the mood of the music at the beginning of the movement although the music editor has favoured the use of Italian terms in the score detail. The Studies in Canon Opus 56 of Schumann are perfect pieces for the music student because they refererence music of the past with the chromatic language of the romantic period and are appealing to play. The Opus 56 collection can be appreciated on so many levels and the pieces exist in a number of different arrangements. This is music that re-invents J.S.Bach style than directly imitating or copying it. The playback score or realisation is clearly not as nuanced as a live performance. The texture is straightforward to understand in that there are two melodies exploring the canonic and imitative aspects of the music, a chordal accompaniment and a bass line. The realisation plays at 72 eighth (quaver) notes to the minute in the first section from bar 1 to 19 and then 80 eighth notes for the remainder of the movement with the occasional slowing down or rit. The performance practice associated with the Study in Canon No. 4 also varies adding further interest to the music’s study. The score detail in place in the sheet music score is particularly relevant to the tonal qualities of modern instruments. Managing the tempo through the playing of the whole piece is one of the challenges of a performance and more than one approach can be employed. The dynamic range is an additional aspect of the performance that can be explored. It is necessary to have an understanding of the strong chromatic element in the music which is particularly evident in the bass line and the chordal accompaniment. In addition to Schumann’s the original composition for pedal piano there are many arrangements of the Opus 56 collection namely Georges Bizet’s for piano duet and Claude Debussy’s for two pianos. Players need to pay attention to the rhythmic detail and the chromatic detail. The mordents have been written out in the video score which can be viewed on our YouTube channel although symbols are used in the sheet music score. The use of the sustaining pedal whilst recommended has not been indicated in the sheet music score. The small decorative notes in the turns in bars 17, 19 and 65 do not sound in the video score or realisation. Instrument players will need to ensure that the reading of the notes and accidentals is accurate as the chromatic element is a strong feature There is also opportunity to explore tempo rubato in a performance. In romantic music this refers to the give and take (speeding up and slowing down) as far as tempo is concerned. There are many recordings to explore of the trio arrangements and it would be well worth some time listening to a sample of the different versions that exist. The mp3 accompaniment downloads available enable players to enjoy an ensemble music experience playing the clarinet in Bb part as a solo. The piano and violoncello sound in the accompaniment. Accompaniment 1 plays at 68 eighth (quaver) note beats to the minute in the first section and then 72 eighth (quaver) note beats to the minute from bar 20. Accompaniment 2 plays at 72 eighth (quaver) note beats to the minute in the first section and then 80 eighth (quaver) note beats to the minute. Accompaniment 3 plays at 76 eighth (quaver) note beats to the minute in the first section and 84 eighth (quaver) note beats to the minute. Accompaniment 4 plays at 80 eighth (quaver) note beats to the minute in the first section and 88 eighth (quaver) note beats to the minute. Accompaniment 5 plays at 84 eighth (quaver) note beats to the minute in the first section and 92 eighth (quaver) note beats to the minute. There is a two bar eighth note (quaver) count in to the sound of a woodblock. Close

Spanish Dance No. 2 Opus 12 arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment of Moszkowski’s Spanish Dance No. 2 Opus 12 the realisation plays back at 135 quarte Read More...

In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment of Moszkowski’s Spanish Dance No. 2 Opus 12 the realisation plays back at 135 quarter note (crotchet) beats a minute in the first and last A section and 150 in the middle B section. The first section could be played at a slower or quicker tempo and likewise the middle section. The movement needs to be played with a one in a bar feel and features the triplet figuration that is so characteristic of Spanish music. Players should endeavour to communicate the charm and intimacy of the music whilst the melody and accompaniment need to be articulated with clarity and consistency. The movement is in ABA ternary form and has a regular 8 bar phrase structure. In fact each of the main sections are in ternary form so analysis of the movement reveals a structure that can be represented as A (a b a) B (c d c) A (a b a). Octave transpositions are in place where appropriate and chord voicings in the accompaniment have been occasionally edited. The melody is also presented as a single note line. Tempo rubato is something that can be embraced in a performance but has not been used in the realisation and playback. Similarly, the sustaining pedal can be used although its use is not indicated in the sheet music score. The slowing downs that feature at the end of phrases are also not marked in the score. This is music intended for performance in the early 20th century drawing room. This colourful movement exists in several chamber and orchestral arrangements. Moszkowski is a composer whose brilliant piano pieces in particular are worthy of attention although much of the music is technically very challenging. Piano accompaniments are available playing at the following tempi (1) 144/144/144 (2) 138/150/138 (3) 135/144/135 (4)126/138/126. The numbers simply refer to the number of quarter note/crotchet beats to the minute referencing the ABA structure. If you require a more bespoke accompaniment please advise the PlentyMusic office and we will create and upload it for you. The acciaccatura or crushed note do not sound in bar 20 and bar 116. Instrumentalists may well review the playing of the small ornamental notes and leave them out entirely although they have been retained in the sheet music score. Close

Lascia chio pianga

The aria or song is taken from the opera Rinaldo which first appeared in 1711 and was revised in 1733. It is in ABA form and based on the sarabande rh Read More...

The aria or song is taken from the opera Rinaldo which first appeared in 1711 and was revised in 1733. It is in ABA form and based on the sarabande rhythm which has the stress on the second beat of the three beats in the bar. When sung the Da Capo section would be an opportunity for the soloist to improvise and ornament the melody and this is option available to the organists although it is important to keep to the style and mood of the piece. This is very appropriate music for a solemn processional in an organ playing context. The use of three registrations is suggested and are indicated in the score. Rests have been indicated in all parts so that players have a clear understanding of the voicing. It is also a movement that invites interpretation and playing in different contexts. The arrangement is in the original key of F major although the tempo for the organ solo is more Larghetto than Largo which was the tempo indication in the opera. The video score plays back at a tempo of 66 half note or minim beats to the minute. Rests are indicated in the score enabling players to have a clear understanding of the voicing of the musical lines. Moskowski has also arranged the aria for piano. Close

It’s A Date

It's A Date is a beginner level piano/keyboard piece based on a 12 bar blues. As a beginner score the letter names of the notes appear in the note hea Read More...

It's A Date is a beginner level piano/keyboard piece based on a 12 bar blues. As a beginner score the letter names of the notes appear in the note heads and suggested fingering is in place. The tempo of the playback on the video score is 84 half note or minim beats to the minute.Players need to take notice of the accent signs marked in the score and keep their hands as light as possible. Playing a blues structured piece of music does encourage fluent playing and the development of musical memory. The 12 bar blues forms the basis of much popular music of the 20th century. Close

Minuet in G WoO 10 No.2 arr. clarinet in A & piano

A very appealing and familiar movement from the treasure trove of Beethoven’s works WoO (Without Opus number) Originally composed for orchestra, the Read More...

A very appealing and familiar movement from the treasure trove of Beethoven’s works WoO (Without Opus number) Originally composed for orchestra, the manuscript was lost and the music has essentially been reconstructed from a piano arrangement. It is a melodic piece full of character and humour and this arrangement is for clarinet in A with piano accompaniment. In performance the Minuet is played with repeats followed by the Trio section marked Più mosso again with repeats. Finally, the first Minuet is repeated but this time without repeats. A rit. (slowing down) at the end of the two main sections (minuet and trio) is appropriate. The music editor urges those auditioning this piece to listen to many performances featuring different soloists get a clear vision of how the movement can and should be played. It is a Beethoven piece that frequently is played badly. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested for the first Minuet section and a tempo of 120 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested for the Trio section marked Più mosso. Accompaniments are available for this score with a four bar count in played on a two sounds of the wood block. Because of the tempo changes and the upbeat in the solo part there is a two beat click between the sections. Wood block sounds are recorded on one side of the stereo channel so that the sound can be silenced. Accompaniment 1 has a tempo of 104 quarter note (crotchet) beats for the Minuet and 110 for the Trio section, Accompaniment 2 has a tempo of 108 quarter note (crotchet) beats for the Minuet and 116 for the Trio section, Accompaniment 3 has a tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats for the Minuet and 120 for the Trio section. This score was reviewed, revised with accompaniments added in 2020. A clarinet in A part appropriately transposed is appended to the music score. Although not quite correct the title Minuet in G has been retained for this movement. Close

Manchega arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Manchega originates as a concert étude for piano – an etude in music is a study. Such movements are intended to improve and demonstrate technique a Read More...

Manchega originates as a concert étude for piano – an etude in music is a study. Such movements are intended to improve and demonstrate technique and in the context of the original arrangement was intended to demonstrate the composer’s virtuoso piano playing. The playback tempo in the playback score is 60 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The movement in ABA (Ternary form) which was very much the standard form during the romantic period. Composers needed to follow the conventions of their time to ensure the patterns of their music were readily recognized by audiences. The A section is in Eb and the B section in Gb. The repeat does not sound in the playback. There has been some re-scoring but not re-writing of the original material. This is an excellent piece for developing 3 v 2 playing which is such a characteristic element of Spanish and music based on Spanish models. The music editor suggests practicing the music slowly in the first instance so that all rhythmic shapes and patterns are secure. The use of the piano sustaining pedal is recommended but is not indicated in the score. Gottschalk’s writing is strongly influenced by Chopin. As the repetitive element in the movement is strong there is an opportunity to explore the dynamic and tonal range in a performance. The music editor suggests that this movement along with much of Gottschalk’s music is worth discovering particularly in arrangements where the playing level allows access to the music. A clarinet in B appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Piano accompaniments are also available for download in mp3 format at tempi of Accompaniment (1) 63 Accompaniment (2) 60 and Accompaniment (3) 57 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829 – 1869) was an American composer and pianist born in New Orleans who spent most of his performing career touring and giving concerts. He was often referred to as the greatest pianist from the “New World.” Chopin, Liszt and Alkan were great admirers of his talent. His compositions established him as one of the first identifiable American composers. In his music it is possible to hear a mix of American creole, African-American and European music traditions. His early works in particularly are imbued with the sounds that he heard in his youth in Louisiana . The syncopated nature of his music anticipates many of the characteristics of later American ragtime and jazz music. Close

None but the Lonely Heart arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

None but the Lonely Heart originates as a song dating from 1869 coming from the composer’s Opus 6 collection. The poetry was written by the German r Read More...

None but the Lonely Heart originates as a song dating from 1869 coming from the composer’s Opus 6 collection. The poetry was written by the German romantic poet Goethe and subsequently translated into Russian. The music editor recommends reading a translation of the text although the clear message in the poem is an expression of loneliness. Although only 54 bars long the piece has great emotional and musical range making it an ideal assessment piece. The repeating elements add unity to the song which has strong rhythmic and melodic shapes. Whilst there is a clearly evident phrase structure there are some overlapping phrases and the occasionally musical link which players need to take into consideration during a performance. Musically the falling minor 7th in the melody is characteristic as is the chromatic harmony which features a number of half-diminished 7th chords. Clarinet players should be aiming for a legato in their playing ensuring that they feature contrasting dynamics in a performance. This arrangement keeps close to the composer’s original version of the song. There is a considerable amount of score detail and it is an excellent piece for developing controlled and quality of tone in solo playing. The suggested phrasing is determined by the shape of the melody and the punctuation of the poetry. Accompanists will need to make use of the sustaining pedal whilst the off-beat or syncopated chords in the accompaniment add to the intensity of the music. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 92 quarter notes or crotchet beats to the minute. There are accompaniments available playing at (1) 92 (2) 88 (3) 84 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute from the PlentyMusic website. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed part is appended to the sheet music score. Close

Down By The Riverside arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Down By The Riverside is a song that dates back to before the American Civil War but was not published until 1918. It can be described as an African A Read More...

Down By The Riverside is a song that dates back to before the American Civil War but was not published until 1918. It can be described as an African American spiritual. There are many recorded versions dating as far back as the 1920’s and It was also familiar as an anti-war protest song during the Vietnam war. There are many versions of the lyrics which include Old Testament bible references. There are fine performances to be discovered by traditional jazz bands and singers that explore traditional, gospel and contemporary popular music styles. This arrangement sounds in the key of F and features syncopation in a march style. It is as an excellent introduction for learning to play in the 20th century popular idiom. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. There is one accompaniment available that plays back at a tempo of 84 half note or minim beats to the minute. Close

First Movement from Sonata orig. in G arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi became a Naples based composer from 1725 when the city was an important musical centre. His life sadly was cut short by il Read More...

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi became a Naples based composer from 1725 when the city was an important musical centre. His life sadly was cut short by illness but he did become a well-known composer in his lifetime particularly for his Stabat Mater and opera buffa. The music editor’s approach has simply been to present an arrangement for solo instrument with piano accompaniment. There is no baroque or for that matter classical preoccupation with the challenge for the performer being to present what is a charming and appealing piece of music in a performing context. The sounding key is Eb and the tempo of the realisation is 66 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute whilst the repeat is not played. In the sheet music score the ornaments are represented by symbols although the mordents do not sound and are optional. For those actually wanting to see how the ornaments are played have a look at the realisation score which is on our YouTube channel. Elements of baroque style can be identified in the rhythmic detail and the contrasting dynamics. The accompanist does need to make use of the sustaining pedal and there is some score detail relating to its use in place. An arrangement for solo violin with piano accompaniment by Alessandro Longo based on the trio sonata by Pergolesi is the source for this particular arrangement. Longo is best known for his work cataloguing Scarlatti’s sonatas and apart from being a fine concert pianist was Director of the Naples Conservatory. There are many other works have been incorrectly attributed to Pergolesi because as his name was well known, it was easy to sell the sheet music of others in this way! A clarinet part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. There are three piano accompaniments available at tempos of (1) 68 (2) 66 and (3) 64 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Each accompaniment has a click track at the opening to give the tempo enabling players to play the upbeat in time. Close

Odeon arr. clarinet in B flat & piano

This arrangement of Odeon for clarinet in Bb and piano is a lively rhythmic movement full of energy featuring many syncopated patterns with the realis Read More...

This arrangement of Odeon for clarinet in Bb and piano is a lively rhythmic movement full of energy featuring many syncopated patterns with the realisation playing back at a tempo of 88 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute. It is also a movement with a wide melodic range. In this particular arrangement the music has been transposed down a semitone from its original key and where necessary there are some octave transpositions in the melody line to keep within the instrument’s range. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. The repetition element is quite strong as is typical of a piece of popular music whilst the form of the movement can be represented by the letters AABBACCA. Nazareth was a Brazilian composer and pianist whose compositional style absorbs many different influences including Brazilian, European, African and ragtime. As a composer Nazareth was particularly influenced by Chopin. The small ornamental notes can be added when the piece is able to be played competently. The score details in the composer’s hands is written in his native Portuguese and the words bright and dry are used along with the word gingando which means girgling. The accompanist needs to have quite a percussive approach in their playing to communicate the rhythmic detail and energy of the movement. There are three piano accompaniments available at tempi of 96, 92 and 88 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute with the repeats being played. Close

Sweet Dreams arr. clarinet choir/ quintet

An arrangement for four clarinets in Bb and bass clarinet – 5 parts in total of this improver level ternary form (ABA) work from Tchaikovsky’s 1 Read More...

An arrangement for four clarinets in Bb and bass clarinet – 5 parts in total of this improver level ternary form (ABA) work from Tchaikovsky’s 1878 Album for the Young, Opus 39. It is a melodic movement with a regular phrase structure which is not surprising for a composer known for his ballet music. There are editions where accent markings are placed very generously in the music scores although the music editor suggests that modern instruments with their stronger tone quality do not require such score markings. This is an excellent piece for developing legato playing and tone quality in the melody playing. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 84 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute. The score and parts can be downloaded as a one document pdf file from the website. Close

Sweet Dreams arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This improver level ternary form (ABA) work is from Tchaikovsky’s Album for the Young, Opus 39. It is a melodic movement with a regular phrase struc Read More...

This improver level ternary form (ABA) work is from Tchaikovsky’s Album for the Young, Opus 39. It is a melodic movement with a regular phrase structure which is not surprising for a composer known for his ballet music. There are editions where accent markings are placed very generously in the music scores although the music editor suggests that modern instruments with their stronger tone quality do not require such indicative score markings. This is an excellent piece for developing legato playing, quality of tone and musical memory as repetition is a strong element. The clarinet range is also explored in this particular arrangement. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 84 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute whilst a clarinet in Bb part is appended to the full score. The piano accompanist can make use of the sustaining pedal in the A section with the use of the pedal guided by the harmonic rhythm. Pedalling in other words is governed by the changing chords or harmony. There are three piano accompaniments available at tempi of (1) 88 (2) 84 and (3) 80 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Close

Romantic Piece No.1 arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

A simply beautiful piece of music of chamber music possibly deserving of a more inspiring title than simply Romantic Piece No. 1 Opus 75 but suited to Read More...

A simply beautiful piece of music of chamber music possibly deserving of a more inspiring title than simply Romantic Piece No. 1 Opus 75 but suited to being played by a number of solo instruments although its origins are as a violin and piano piece. It dates from early 1887. In this arrangement for clarinet in B flat accompanied by piano there is considerable dynamic detail and any performance needs to reference this aspect of the score detail. The tempo of the playback of the realisation is 104 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. This is an excellent piece for players keen to improve their tone and legato playing as it has a very song like and melodic character. Great space is created in the accompaniment figuration which has an almost Bach quality whilst the harmonic language and at times the texture clearly belong to the late 19th century. The music editor suggested pedalling is in place for parts of the movement with the pedalling effectively changing every time the bass note is changed. The repeats are not played in the realisation. Antonín Dvorák is described as Czech composer with his work incorporating rhythms and musical features of folk music from Moravia and his native Bohemia. Like many of his contemporaries of the late romantic era who lived on what were considered to be, at the time, the peripheries of Europe, he is often described as a nationalist composer. Dvorák’s compositional style is influenced by Brahms although his works have a very individual style possessing a great sense of energy and anticipation of the new century. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Two accompaniments are available (1) without repeats and (2) with repeats playing back at a tempo of 104 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Close

Norwegian Dance No.2 arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb and piano of this charming character piece. This movement is in ABA ternary form with the A section playing back at Read More...

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb and piano of this charming character piece. This movement is in ABA ternary form with the A section playing back at a tempo of 68 quarter note beats to the minute in the realisation and the faster B section at 112 quarter note beats to the minute. The music has a regular 4 bar phrase structure and there are some chromatic elements in the writing. There is opportunity for some subtle changes in tempo particularly at the ends of sections and these feature in the realisations. The melodic and rhythmic shapes of the movement are both strong and although concisely written there is plenty of contrast. It is an excellent performance piece with the opening melodic shape having an almost teasing quality. There is always a sense of movement in Grieg’s writing and the ranges of colour in his harmonic writing make his music eminently suitable to being played by many different combinations of instruments. Pianists have a number of different techniques that they can develop when playing this piece including legato, staccato, accents, tenuto, spread chords, crossing over of hands and using the sustaining and sostenuto pedal. It is a very good piece for developing octave playing. The sustaining pedal needs to be used in the playing of the movement and many of the piano chords are played in a spread or arpeggiated pattern. Grieg lived at a time when there was much development in piano technique and the quality of pianos improved greatly during his lifetime with the introduction of iron framed instruments. The humour in the music also invites an exaggerated performance although not featured in the realisation. Players should listen to performances to form their own view and explore different approaches to interpreting the music. Where appropriate some octave transpositions have been incorporated into the clarinet melody line. As is the case with music from this period the sheet music copy has a considerable amount of score detail. Grieg’s Norwegian Dance No.2 was published in 1880 as a piano duet or more correctly music for piano four hands. Piano duets were a very popular in the late 19th century and much music would appear in this format. Grieg was fortunate in being able to access several folk music collections and much of this collected material was incorporated into arrangements and compositions. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full sheet music score. Piano accompaniments are available with the following tempo options (1) 68/112/68 (2) 66/112/66 (3) 64/108/64. Numbers indicate the quarter note (crotchet) beats per minute for the ABA sections respectively. Close

Pavane pour une infante défuncte arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Players may wish to advise the PlentyMusic Office of some fine tuning that the arrangement requires in respect to its playability. If there is a need Read More...

Players may wish to advise the PlentyMusic Office of some fine tuning that the arrangement requires in respect to its playability. If there is a need for some cut down or shortened accompaniments please again advise the PlentyMusic Office and these will be made available. There are several arrangements of this music in existence and the intention of this one has been to keep as close to the original piano score as possible. This arrangement for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment sounds in the key of F. The pavane has its origins as an Italian 16th century slow stately dance. Referencing past musical forms in their works became popular among Ravel’s contemporaries including Debussy. The cue sized decorative notes can be omitted whilst the piece in the early stages of studying the piece. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 60 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and there are opportunities for give and take in the tempo particularly at the end of phrases. This is an ambitious and complete arrangement Ravel’s piece. Time does need to be spent understanding the musical texture and the lines of music. The composer’s own language has also been retained in the language used in the score The chromatic sections require careful study in terms of the notes to be played whilst the phrase endings often explore parallel movement in a characteristic sweep. Ravel frequently avoids the use of thirds in final chords of sections. The barring that is in place is to help the player to make the rhythmic connections in the movement. Performers should listen to a number of different performances played by different instruments to get a good overview of how the music can be best performed. The bold ending is a very characteristic feature of the original piano score and the suggestion is that it should be retained. The use of the piano sustaining pedal markings are not indicated in the score but its use is required. There are three piano accompaniments available at tempi of 1=63, 2=60 and 3=57 quarter note beats to the minute. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

Shenandoah arr. clarinet quartet

Shenandoah is a traditional American folk song dating from the 19th century. The song exists in many forms and arrangements becoming popular as a sea Read More...

Shenandoah is a traditional American folk song dating from the 19th century. The song exists in many forms and arrangements becoming popular as a sea shanty in the 1800’s. The beautiful yet powerful melody is suited to being both sung and played as an instrumental. The melody is also quite expansive and clearly open to different interpretations. This arrangement is for a clarinet quartet comprising 3 clarinets in Bb and bass clarinet sounding in the key of Eb. The playback tempo is 84 quarter note beats to the minute and individual parts appropriately transposed are appended to the full score. Close

Shenandoah arr. clarinet in B flat & piano

Shenandoah is a traditional American folk song dating from the 19th century. The song exists in many forms and arrangements becoming popular as a sea Read More...

Shenandoah is a traditional American folk song dating from the 19th century. The song exists in many forms and arrangements becoming popular as a sea shanty in the 1800’s.The beautiful yet powerful melody is suited to being both sung and played as an instrumental. The melody is also quite expansive and clearly open to different interpretations. This arrangement sounding in Eb is for clarinet in Bb accompanied by piano. The playback tempo is 84 quarter note beats to the minute and a clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

La biondina in gondoleta arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

The origins of this piece are as a Venetian song about gondolas (boats) and gondoliers (those steering and propelling the boats). Themes often expres Read More...

The origins of this piece are as a Venetian song about gondolas (boats) and gondoliers (those steering and propelling the boats). Themes often expressed by gondoliers do tend to be about the romantic side of life. The words barcarola or barcarolle are used to describe the folk songs sung by Venetian gondoliers and they are usually in 6/8 time and played at a moderate tempo featuring a rhythmic pattern reminiscent of the gondolier’s oar stroke. Romantic composers were particularly fond of composing barcarolles and Mendelssohn’s “Song without Words” features several. This is an improver level arrangement with the realisation playing back at a tempo of 63 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment the sounding key is F. This is an excellent performance piece because the melody is appealing and familiar. Players should be aiming for a lightness in their approach and a legato in their playing. Time spent listening to recordings of this melody particularly by singers will help players learn how to approach a musical performance. Accompaniments are also available at tempos of 66, 63 and 60 dotted quarter note beats (crotchet) beats to the minute. An clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

When The Saints Go Marching In arr. clarinet in B Flat choir

When The Saints Go Marching In arranged for clarinet choir sounding in the key of F. There are parts for 4 clarinets in Bb and bass clarinet. The play Read More...

When The Saints Go Marching In arranged for clarinet choir sounding in the key of F. There are parts for 4 clarinets in Bb and bass clarinet. The playback tempo is 100 half note or minim beats to the minute whilst the music is notated in cut time. Traditional American music songs such as “When The Saints Go Marching In” are excellent pieces for developing an understanding of the style elements associated with the performance of 20th century popular music. There is opportunity for players to explore the arrangement - the bass line played by the pianist keyboard player is open to being played with some rhythmic variation particularly during the playing of the repeat sections. Many melodies and lyrics that are recognised as spirituals are often a synthesis of several songs that had their origins as work songs before, during and after the American Civil War. Songs sung from the 1850’s and onwards were perhaps published around 1918 and then first recorded in the 1920’s. The history of the song is well documented and many there are performances to be discovered embracing a range of styles and different types of performing group. Individual parts for the five instruments are appended to the full score. Close

When The Saints Go Marching In arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

When The Saints Go Marching In arranged for clarinet in Bb and piano in the key of F. The playback tempo is 100 half note or minim beats to the minute Read More...

When The Saints Go Marching In arranged for clarinet in Bb and piano in the key of F. The playback tempo is 100 half note or minim beats to the minute whilst the music is notated in cut time. Traditional American music songs such as “When The Saints Go Marching In” are excellent pieces for developing an understanding of the style elements associated with the performance of 20th century popular music. There is opportunity for players to explore the arrangement - the bass line played by the pianist is open to being played with some rhythmic variation particularly during the playing of the repeat sections. Many melodies and lyrics that are recognised as spirituals are often a synthesis of several songs that had their origins as work songs before, during and after the American Civil War. Songs sung from the 1850’s and onwards were perhaps published around 1918 and then first recorded in the 1920’s. The history of the song is well documented and many there are performances to be discovered embracing a range of styles and different types of performing group. A clarinet part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. A piano accompaniment is also available. Close

Nel cor più non mi sento arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Paisiello was known as an opera composer and his best known melody “Nel cor più mi sento” is from his opera La Molinara. Beethoven used the melod Read More...

Paisiello was known as an opera composer and his best known melody “Nel cor più mi sento” is from his opera La Molinara. Beethoven used the melody as a theme for a set of piano variations in his Works without opus number 70 (WoO70). Paisiello became a Naples based composer contemporary with Cimararosa and Piccini although he was always very jealous of any rivals work wherever he worked and this included Paris, for Napoleon and St. Petersburg for Catherine II. Naples in the 18th and early 19th century was an important musical centre with the San Carlo Opera Theatre opening in 1737. There are many tunes from the past that are worthy of being re-discovered and this arrangement is intended for improver level instrumentalists. Bar 26 has been re written as a 9/8 bar simply to clarify how the ornaments should be played. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 54 dotted quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute and accompaniments are available at this and two other tempi (1 = 56, 2 = 54 and 3 = 52 dotted quarter note beats to the bar). The repeat is not played in the playback score but is in the accompaniment track. The Italian term Adagio has been used to describe the tempo in the sheet music scores. Note that the pause markings are ignored in the accompaniments but for those musicians playing with a pianist there is an opportunity to pause on the indicated sheet music markings and even create a break in the music. The movement does need to be played with a clear sense of pulse and rhythmic awareness whilst ornaments need to be played with rhythmic clarity. Aspiring composers may well be challenged to compose some variations as a composition study. You are always welcome to send a copy of your work to the PlentyMusic office for an opinion! This piece of music can competently played by an improver level student and is suited to being played by most instruments. The music editor also suggests listening to performances by singers who often approach the repeat with great freedom and further embellish the music. This is not necessarily to imitate but to learn about how to perform music. The advice to any young performer is to always have the confidence to make the piece your own. The accompanist also has the option of experimenting with the articulations particularly if the intention is to create the sound of pizzicato strings. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

The Last Rose of Summer arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This traditional Irish melody associated with the early 19th poem written by Thomas Moore is suited to being played by a solo instrument with an accom Read More...

This traditional Irish melody associated with the early 19th poem written by Thomas Moore is suited to being played by a solo instrument with an accompaniment as a concert item. The melody is quite evocative and needs to be played with sensitivity and an awareness of phrasing. There are many melodic variants as often is the case with folk music. Players need to aim for a beautiful legato and may wish to omit the small ornamental notes. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. A piano accompaniment is available for this arrangement. Close

The Prophet Bird arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This piece comes from Robert Schumann’s piano collection Waldscenen Opus 82 and dates from 1849. The title “Vogel als Prophet” translates as “ Read More...

This piece comes from Robert Schumann’s piano collection Waldscenen Opus 82 and dates from 1849. The title “Vogel als Prophet” translates as “Bird of Prophet” or “The Prophet Bird.” It is an impressive piece in ABA (Ternary form) and has been arranged for clarinet in Bb and piano sounding in C minor. There are a few octave transpositions in the piano part. The tempo indication in German is Langsam, sehr zart which translates as Slowly, very tenderly. The music has a haunting quality and offers challenges for both for the clarinet player and accompanist making it a very good test piece. The playback in the realisation is a little on the tense side and does not explore tempo rubato which at this time was an aspect of performance practice. Poise and control are needed in a performance whilst all the shapes need to be practiced for accuracy and shape. This is a music score that offers many challenges to players. The tempo in the realisation is 60 quarter note beats although there is opportunity to slow down at the end of phrases. The trill has been written out on an ossia stave in the sheet music score. The sustaining pedal has been indicated in the score but minimal use is suggested. This is a work that challenges the performers to make it their own in the sense that from the first note to the last both the players and the listeners must be captivated. It is a piece where it very easy for the music to be lost on the journey of a performance. It is important for players have a clear understanding of the rhythmic notation and intention - 3 thirty-second notes (demisemiquavers) are to be played in the time of one sixteenth note (or semiquaver). The music editor suggests that at the end of bar 18 the tempo is slowed and again at the end of bar 23 before the return to Tempo I at bar 25. This arrangement keeps as close to Schumann’s score copy as possible. A clarinet in Bb part is appended to the full score. Close

Pieds-en-l’air arr clarinet choir

This is an excellent piece for developing legato playing and instrument tone and this arrangement is for clarinets divided into parts I, II and III ( Read More...

This is an excellent piece for developing legato playing and instrument tone and this arrangement is for clarinets divided into parts I, II and III (ideally two instruments or more on each line) and bass clarinet. It is also a good test piece because a successful performance requires an awareness of the modal influence that exists in the lines of the music evident in the conflicting accidentals that feature in the score. For a clarinet group to play this piece perfectly in tune is quite a challenge because it requires the participants to be aware of each other’s part and rôle. The time signature is also a bit unusual but think of it as three groups of 3 whilst the tempo of the realization is played at 132 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Rhythmically there are one or two moments that need attention particularly in the inner parts and the voice leading is at times quite challenging to follow. Individual clarinet parts are appended to the full music score. Peter Warlock’s career was sadly a short lived one but he did make some important contributions to the repertoire including the Capriol Suite from which this particular movement is taken. He was very interested in folk and Elizabethan music and used the name Warlock as a pseudonym for his composition work. He was a close friend of Delius and also worked as a music journalist using his real name which was Philip Heseltine. Warlock’s particular interest in music was in discovering and exploring the modal quality of English music through its folk song and its Elizabethan vocal music. The Capriol Suite captures what could be described as a neo-Elizabethan idiom and spirit quite perfectly and it is well worth listening to the whole work played in its orchestral arrangement. Warlock’s was in many ways an unfulfilled life but it is evident in both his instrumental and vocal music that he had a quite exceptional musical ear and a true understanding of English music. Close

Evening in Transylvania arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This piece known as Evening in Transylvania and also Evening in the Village (Este a székelyeknél) is from the composer’s piano collection Ten Easy Read More...

This piece known as Evening in Transylvania and also Evening in the Village (Este a székelyeknél) is from the composer’s piano collection Ten Easy Pieces although it has been transposed down a tone. There are two original melodies one played slowly with rubato and the other played quickly and in strict time. Essentially whilst working in the folk music idiom Bártok remains loyal to the classical principles of contrast in music by exploring two different ideas. Bártok is always very precise about the articulations that he requires in his music and players need to take notice of the dynamics which are notated in all clefs. The rhythmic purpose of his music is always very strong whilst delivery of the melody needs to be quite fluid in the rubato section the music it nevertheless needs to be delivered with a strong sense of pulse. From bar 42 the music texturally is notated and conceived in four parts. In the realisation the tempo is 76 quarter note (crotchet) beats in the lento rubato sections and 132 quarter note (crotchet beats) beats in the Vivo, non rubato sections. The realisation lacks a little rhythmic flexibility at the ends of phrases in the rubato sections and the music editor suggests that listening to a number of performances will be helpful in coming to an understanding of how this music should be performed. Accompanists will want to make use of the sustaining pedal although this has not been indicated through the entirety of the score although the music editor suggests minimal use as modern instruments are tonally much stronger that those of the composer’s own time. Bártok considered the piano to be a percussion instrument as a composer and many of his folk music arrangements explore the modal element that is so characteristic of folk music and his accompaniments make use of ostinatos. Bártok is one of the greatest 20th century composers and made a significant contribution to the repertoire. As a composer he worked on small canvasses as well as large ones and frequently ideas were transferred from the small to the large. This particular piece was transcribed by the composer into the first of his Hungarian Sketches for orchestra. He was Hungarian by birth and was important collector of folk music and one of the founders of the relatively new subject of ethnomusicology. He has something in common with Schubert in that both of them were very creative towards the end of their lives. Bártok left Europe in 1940 to settle in the U.S.A. but his health declined and he died from leukaemia in 1945 sadly before many of his concert hall works had become well known and recognised as great works. Rubato is defined as the temporary disregarding of strict tempo to allow an expressive quickening or slowing down, usually without altering the overall pace. It is a playing approach particularly associated with the music of Chopin. A clarinet on Bb appropriately transposed is appended to the music score. Close

Sururú na Cidade arr. clarinet in B Flat with piano accompaniment

Zequinha Abreu was a Brazilian musician and composer and Sururú na Cidade translates as Sururú in the City. The rondo form of Sururú na Cidade can Read More...

Zequinha Abreu was a Brazilian musician and composer and Sururú na Cidade translates as Sururú in the City. The rondo form of Sururú na Cidade can be summarised as Intro A B B A C C A. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 88 quarter note beats to the minute and the repeats are played. The music of Brazil is a fascinating mix of European and African cultures with the Choro or Lament instrumental style having its origins in 19th century urban Rio de Janeiro (Chorinho = Little Lament). Whilst the inference of the title suggests a style that is sad, pieces can often have a fast and happy rhythms with syncopation, modulations and counterpoint. There are also particularly instruments associated with the performance of this music namely the flute, guitar and a small type of guitar with 4 strings known as the cavaquino which may have either play a melody or a chord rhythm. From the sheet music point of view this is a very concisely notated piece. From bar 38 there is the option of playing the repeat of the C section at the octave as indicated in the score. A clarinet part is appended to the full score. Close

No Bailes Más! (Dance No More) arr. clarinet quartet

In this arrangement for clarinet quartet the specified instruments are three clarinets in Bb and a bass clarinet. The score is formatted as a one docu Read More...

In this arrangement for clarinet quartet the specified instruments are three clarinets in Bb and a bass clarinet. The score is formatted as a one document pdf file with individual parts appropriately transposed for the four clarinets appended to the full score. Ignacio Cervantes was a Cuban composer born in the capital city of Havana in 1847. He had piano lessons with Louis Moreau Gottschalk before travelling to Paris to further his music studies with Charles Valentin Alkan amongst others. This piece originates as a piano solo in the key of Eb whilst this realisation sounds in the key of D it plays at a tempo of 84 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Many performers play through the piece twice although no repeat signs are indicated in the score. Much of Cervantes piano music is well suited to being played by a variety of instrument combinations as they are well crafted and have great musical appeal. The habanera rhythmic shape also features strongly. Close

No Bailes Más! (Dance No More) arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Ignacio Cervantes was a Cuban composer born in the capital city of Havana in 1847. He had piano lessons with Louis Moreau Gottschalk before travelling Read More...

Ignacio Cervantes was a Cuban composer born in the capital city of Havana in 1847. He had piano lessons with Louis Moreau Gottschalk before travelling to Paris to further his music studies with Charles Valentin Alkan amongst others. This piece originates as a piano solo in the key of Eb whilst this realisation sounds in the key of Eb and plays at a tempo of 88 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Many performers play through the piece twice although no repeat signs are indicated in the score. Much of Cervantes piano music is well suited to being played by a variety of instrument combinations as they are well crafted and have great musical appeal. The habanera rhythmic shape features strongly. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

Off To California arr. clarinet in B Flat & bass clarinet in B Flat

The hornpipe is found in the folk music of England, Scotland and Ireland and has a traditional association with sailors in that dancing was used on lo Read More...

The hornpipe is found in the folk music of England, Scotland and Ireland and has a traditional association with sailors in that dancing was used on long sea journeys to both encourage fitness. Hornpipes are usually associated with other hornpipes in a performance context in what is described as a dance set. Most folk music is played from memory and both memory and ensemble playing should be encouraged when performing this style of music. In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet in Bb the realisation plays at 132 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and the hornpipe is in AB (Binary) form. The music needs to be played with a triplet feel as demonstrated in the realisation. The repeats are not played and there is no ornamentation of the melodic line in this two part version. Folk music scores are generally presented with minimal score detail as is the case with this score. Understand that the playing of ornaments whilst relevant in repetitive music of this kind requires a special study and is governed by the instrument being played, the music tradition being represented and sometimes both geography and even locality. A study of ornamentation in folk music the music editor suggests is not for the faint hearted! There are also examples of hornpipes in baroque music including Handel’s Water Music. Three accompaniments are available, with repeats, with the bass clarinet playing the bass line at tempi of (1) 132 (2) 120 and (3) 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. There is two bar click track introduction before the music starts to play. Close

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot arr. clarinet choir

This is a very popular piece of music that in many respects transcends idiom, style and it could be suggested culture. This improver level arrangement Read More...

This is a very popular piece of music that in many respects transcends idiom, style and it could be suggested culture. This improver level arrangement for clarinet choir of 3 clarinets in Bb and bass clarinet is in common time although some of the accompanying chords and rhythmic shapes have been updated to give a more contemporary style. This familiar spiritual gained popularity during the 1960’s with the Civil Rights movement and since 1988 it has become associated with the English rugby team. This arrangement explores a gentle rock style whilst the realisation plays back at a tempo of 100 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar. The full score includes a piano short score and individual parts for the three clarinets in Bb and bass clarinet are appended to the full score. Close

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot arr. clarinet in B flat & piano

This is a very popular piece of music that in many respects transcends idiom, style and at times it could be suggested culture. This improver level ar Read More...

This is a very popular piece of music that in many respects transcends idiom, style and at times it could be suggested culture. This improver level arrangement for clarinet in Bb and piano is in common time whilst some of the accompanying chords and rhythmic shapes have been updated to give a contemporary rock style. There are so many interpretations that it is almost impossible to decide how it should be sung, played and performed. This familiar spiritual gained popularity during the 1960’s with the Civil Rights movement and since 1988 it has become associated with the English rugby team. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 100 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar whilst the repeat is not played in the realisation. As players become familiar with the content and chordal structure there is opportunity to develop the melodic material through improvisation in an additional repeat especially if it is possible to recruit a percussion player. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. The sounding key is F. Close

Pavane arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This is intermediate level arrangement for clarinet in B flat sounding in the key of F minor with piano accompaniment is based on a cut down version o Read More...

This is intermediate level arrangement for clarinet in B flat sounding in the key of F minor with piano accompaniment is based on a cut down version of the piano and SATB vocal arrangement by the composer. The elements of the piece are a distinctive melody, combined with an accompaniment that is for much of the time figurative in character, the occasional countermelody and bass line. Fauré composed music that references both modal and harmonic scales and this explains the feature known as “false relation” (conflicting accidentals in different voices) which appear in bar 22 and 23 and several other bars. It is music that needs to be played with clarity and dignity and not too quickly. The realisation plays back at 80 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. If the movement is played too quickly it loses its poise and gracefulness. The music exists in many different arrangements but is probably most familiar in its orchestral version although it started off life as a piano piece in the 1880’s. The trill in the realisation begins on the E# beginning and ending with sixteenth notes as shown in the video score on YouTube although trills are open to being interpreted in different ways. The pavane has its origins as a slow processional dance popular in the renaissance period but has since been given a new lease of life by composers including Fauré and Ravel. The music editor suggests that the pianist makes limited use of use of the sustaining pedal particularly when the bass notes have a quarter note (crotchet) value. This is an excellent piece for exploring the tonal range of the piano but avoid playing the quieter sections too loudly. The arrangement lasts for approximately 3 minutes and is therefore ideally suited as a concert item. A clarinet in B flat part is appended to the full score. Close

Skye Boat Song arr. clarinet in B flat & piano

This familiar Scottish folk song begins and ends with a chorus (chorus-verse-chorus) and whilst its text describes the escape of Bonnie Prince Charles Read More...

This familiar Scottish folk song begins and ends with a chorus (chorus-verse-chorus) and whilst its text describes the escape of Bonnie Prince Charles the song is often sung as a lullaby. This improver level arrangement is in 6/8 time and is suited to being played by a number of instrument combinations. In this arrangement the accompanying chords have been updated to make the setting more contemporary. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. There are three piano accompaniments available playing at (1) 52 (2) 50 (3) 48 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Close

Scarborough Fair arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

An arrangement for clarinet in B flat and piano of this popular English folk song in the dorian mode. The realisation plays at 50 dotted half notes (m Read More...

An arrangement for clarinet in B flat and piano of this popular English folk song in the dorian mode. The realisation plays at 50 dotted half notes (minim) beats to the minute. The melody section is repeated 4 times by the solo instrumentalist and it is the piano accompaniment that is varied for each verse. The arrangement has been designed very much to build confidence in solo playing working alongside a competent accompanist. Texturally the music is quite sparse which helps give it a haunting quality. The accompanist may wish to add some sustaining pedal although this has not been indicated in the score. The lyrics for the song are well worth a read through because they identify many of the challenges of modern living despite having their origins as an English ballad written many centuries ago. A clarinet in B flat part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. The three accompaniment options have tempi of 1) 150 2) 144 and 3) 138 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute which can be alternatively looked at as being 1) 50 2) 48, and 3) 46 dotted half notes (minims) to the minute. If you are confused the music editor understands completely but the best advice is to play with a one to a bar feel. Close

Le Banjo arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Louis Moreau Gottschalk was an American composer and pianist who worked mainly outside the U.S.A. Born in New Orleans he travelled to Europe at the ag Read More...

Louis Moreau Gottschalk was an American composer and pianist who worked mainly outside the U.S.A. Born in New Orleans he travelled to Europe at the age of 13 to study music. Much of the early music he composed was based on music he remembered from his childhood in Louisiana where he was exposed to a variety of musical traditions. From the 1860’s he was regarded as the best known pianist from the New World and his talent was recognised by both Chopin and Liszt. A tempo of 100 quarter note beats to the minutes is used in the realisation of “Le Banjo” which dates from 1853 whilst the piece needs to be played with a very even tempo with the piano being played quite percussively. The tied notes need to be carefully identified in both the melody and bass line where the acciaccaturas (crushed notes) are used to recreate the “hammer on” technique used by players of fretted instruments. The term Ardito means bold whilst Ben misurato indicates that the music needs to be played in a strict tempo and the term martelltato is an indication that the notes are to be strongly accented. Whilst this is a cut down and simplified version of the work the original in the key of F sharp major is often played by piano virtuosi as an encore. The sustaining pedal hasn’t been indicated in the score but limited use may be considered. In this arrangement for clarinet in B flat and piano the playing context is for the music to be presented as a concert item for intermediate level players. Stephen Foster’s Camptown Races is referenced both at the beginning and the end of the arrangement whilst the trills in bar 75 starts on the note. The clarinet player may wish to play the section from bar 49 – 63 with a staccato articulation. A clarinet part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. There are three accompaniments available playing at (1) 104 (2) 100 and (3) 96 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Close

Prelude in C arr. flute, clarinet in B flat & bass clarinet

An arrangement for flute, clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet of the Little Prelude BWV 936 originally composed for the keyboard.

Czardas arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

A very exciting and dramatic piece of music for audience and performers alike. Technically proficient players play the faster sections more quickly an Read More...

A very exciting and dramatic piece of music for audience and performers alike. Technically proficient players play the faster sections more quickly and the slower sections more slowly than in the realisation often with great rhythmic expression. Vittorio Monti was a musician and composer from Naples although this piece is often described as having its origins as Hungarian folk music. The piece has a sectional structure and repetition is a strong element although the repeats are not played in the realisation. Tempo considerations are quite important and the Allegro vivace sections initially played at 120 quarter notes to the minute. A piacere means at “one’s pleasure, at one’s will,” whilst stentato is a musical expression meaning “laboured, heavy in a dragging manner” and stringendo means progressively quickening in tempo. Rallentandos shouldn’t begin too soon at the ends of phrases. The realisation is rather tame compared to many of the performances available but it is clearly a piece where players can learn much about performing music to an audience and Czardas often features as an encore piece in concerts. The small ornamental notes are probably best omitted in the early stages of learning the piece. The music editor has indicated all tempo text in bold above the staves. There is actually no definitive arrangement of this piece and often the sections between bar 70 to 85 are omitted in performance. Performers may wish to also omit the rallentando indicated in the score at bar 98. Some music performances also have the music starting slowly at bar 86 but soon quicken to an Allegro vivace tempo. Everyone needs to enjoy a performance of this music. The simple advice is to make your performance your own! A clarinet part is appended to the full score. There are two accompaniments available (1) with repeats and (2) without repeats. Close

Santa Lucia arr. clarinet in B flat & piano

Santa Lucia has its origins as a Neopolitan song with its lyrics celebrating the outdoor lives of boatmen who lived and worked in the Bay of Naples in Read More...

Santa Lucia has its origins as a Neopolitan song with its lyrics celebrating the outdoor lives of boatmen who lived and worked in the Bay of Naples in what sound to be very happy times. The repeat is not played in the realisation but in performance can be added. Instrument players should be aiming to develop their legato playing and quality of tone when playing the piece and there are opportunities to slow the tempo at the ends of phrases although this is not indicated in the score. Players may well want to also edit the phrasing because there are options available. A tempo of 100 quarter note (crotchet) beats is used in the playback. A clarinet in B flat part appropriately transposed is also appended to the full score. As this will be a familiar melody to any audience the piece will need to be known thoroughly before any performance is given. Close

The Swan arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) was a French composer and this beautiful movement is from The Carnival of the Animals of 1886. The melody needs to be Read More...

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) was a French composer and this beautiful movement is from The Carnival of the Animals of 1886. The melody needs to be delivered with a legato tone and because of this and the melodic range it is an excellent piece for developing the tonal aspects of playing a musical instrument. Whilst the movement is particularly associated with the cello it is suited to being played by a number of different instruments and instrument combinations. The time signature indicates that there are 6 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar and these should be played as two groups of three. The harmonic language is very French in character sharing a subtlety that is also found in the music of his friend and pupil, the French composer Fauré. Pedalling in the piano part has not been indicated in the scores but does need to be used and generally this is governed by the harmonic rhythm of the movement. Like many French composers Saint-Saens was a very fine organist and music commentators suggest that his music is deserving of more attention because of its quality and variety. A clarinet in Bb part is appended to the full score. There are four accompaniments available without a click track for the introduction as this is not required because of the one bar piano introduction. They are at tempi of 75, 72, 69 and 72 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Please advise the PlentyMusic Office if you require accompaniments with different tempi and these will be uploaded. Close

Sicilienne arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

A sicilienne is a slow tempo movement usually in a minor key with lilting rhythmic patterns and dotted notes enabling it to be described as a slow jig Read More...

A sicilienne is a slow tempo movement usually in a minor key with lilting rhythmic patterns and dotted notes enabling it to be described as a slow jig. This movement dates from 1893 and exists in several different arrangements. Fauré’s music possesses subtlety and as a composer he has a great awareness of instrument colour. Careful attention needs to be paid to the reading of accidentals as frequently different voices are sounding in what seem to be conflicting versions of a note. This is attributable to the modal element that it is a strong component of Fauré’s music. Apart from this, attention needs to be made to the reading of the notes and the score detail particularly in respect to knowing which notes are tied. In preparing the scores the most appropriate range of the solo instrument is explored and consequently different arrangements explore different octave ranges. The sustaining pedal is required when playing the accompaniment and this has been indicated in the opening bars of the full score. The accompanist has the choice of whether or not to spread the chords in bar 42 and 43. The realisation plays at a tempo of 50 dotted quarter notes to the minute. A clarinet in Bb part is appended to the full score appropriately transposed as is the clarinet part in the full score. Quite a challenge to determine an appropriate tempo in what is music generally played with fluidity and rubato although Fauré himself was regarded as something of a metronome when accompanying singers! The music editor has the view that the movement is often played too quickly. Accompaniments are available at (1) 58, (2) 54 and (3) 50 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. There is a four bar count in to assist the soloist. For any player requiring a bespoke accompaniment please mark a music score with all the detail that you require regarding tempo and dynamics and forward to the PlentyMusic team. We will endeavour to provide a solution. Just drop your edited music score as an image or pdf to the PlentyMusic office. Close

Cantabile arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This is an excellent piece for an instrument player because it is challenging to play both from the pitch range the player has to manage and the oppor Read More...

This is an excellent piece for an instrument player because it is challenging to play both from the pitch range the player has to manage and the opportunities it offers to explore the tonal range of the clarinet. That said there are some octave transpositions in the clarinet in Bb part. Triplets are shown in the solo instrument part but only in the first two bars of the piano accompaniment. This arrangement is intended to be performance piece and although there has been some re-scoring of the solo part to make it just a little more playable for a range of instruments. Not all the intended ornaments are included in the score to enable the focus to be on playing the melody. The original Paganini version as one would expect has some very challenging moments but is well worth listening to particularly in its original form played on the violin. The limitations of the staff notation system are challenged particularly in the closing cadenza section at bar 45 which needs to be played with a clear sense of pulse being communicated. Paganini is a unique and quite captivating figure in the history of music who was a major influence on many romantic composers influencing both performance practice and also composition. He was the outstanding violinist of his age and in addition was an excellent guitarist although his performances on this instrument were shared with friends rather than the public. A clarinet in Bb part is appended to the full score. Close

October (Autumn Song) arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

October (Autumn Song) is a composition that dates from 1876 and is in ternary form (ABA) work being part of a collection of 12 pieces by the composer Read More...

October (Autumn Song) is a composition that dates from 1876 and is in ternary form (ABA) work being part of a collection of 12 pieces by the composer known as “The Seasons.” This piece requires sensitive but at the same quite controlled playing – exaggerated dynamics and articulations need to be avoided. Many older scores of this work are filled with articulation markings that possibly don’t have the same relevance with modern instruments. It is quiet melancholy composition of great beauty with some sharing of melodic material between the voices which makes it an excellent ensemble piece. Some performers particularly in the triplet passage work at the end of the sections interpret the ties rather liberally. Understand that realisation whilst quite satisfactory does not demonstrate the range of tempo variation needed for a truly convincing performance. Rubato is very applicable when performing this music. The pause mark is also not well represented in the recording as it really needs to be much longer whilst the small notes do not sound in the playback the realisation. The editor suggests listening to many of the excellent performances of this work. An appropriately transposed clarinet in Bb part is appended to the full score. Piano accompaniments are available at tempi of (1) 63 (2) 60 (3) 58 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. If an accompaniment is required with a click track in place for the cadenza section in bars 32 – 33 please advise the PlentyMusic office. Close

Serenade (Petite Suite) arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Borodin was clearly quite an exceptional person known as a doctor and chemist as well as being a member of the Russian group of composers known and po Read More...

Borodin was clearly quite an exceptional person known as a doctor and chemist as well as being a member of the Russian group of composers known and popularized as the “Mighty Handful.” His interest in music was essentially as a hobby but he was very well connected in Russian musical circles and his “Serenade” from the “Petite Suite” was published in 1896. The ostinato pattern that features in the work is an excellent unifying element in the composition and the strong melodic element in this miniature explores in its original version quite a melodic range. A tempo of 60 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is used in the realization. The music editor suggests use of the piano sustaining pedal when playing the accompaniment although this has not been marked in the score. An appended solo clarinet in B flat part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

The Easy Winners arr. clarinet in B Flat, bassoon & piano

This is an excellent ensemble piece in that it allows for great flexibility in instrument combinations. In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb, bassoo Read More...

This is an excellent ensemble piece in that it allows for great flexibility in instrument combinations. In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb, bassoon and piano the sounding key is Ab whilst the realisation tempo is 76 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and the repeats are not played. What is interesting about performing this piece is the impact of a change of tempo on the musical character and musical outcomes. A tempo of 70 quarter note beats to the minute sounds quite slow and yet 80 quarter note beats to the minute sounds fast. Generally, there is not a great amount of performance detail indicated in ragtime music although where opportunity arises when repeating sections performers need to explore dynamic range. The formal pattern of Joplin’s ragtime pieces generally have the structure of the typical American March which can be represented as Intro AA BB AA Link CC DD. Piano accompanists are advised to make use of the sustaining pedal although this aspect of the performance detail has not been indicated in the music score. Clarinet in Bb and bassoon parts are appended to the full score. Piano accompaniments are available as mp3 downloads at tempi of 76, 72, and 68 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The repeats are played in the accompaniments and there is a four bar count in at the beginning with bar 4 being silent. Close

The Easy Winners arr. 2 clarinets in B Flat & piano

This is an excellent ensemble piece in that it allows for great flexibility in instrument combinations. In this arrangement for two clarinets in Bb wi Read More...

This is an excellent ensemble piece in that it allows for great flexibility in instrument combinations. In this arrangement for two clarinets in Bb with piano accompaniment the realisation tempo is 76 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute with the repeats not played. What is interesting about performing this piece is the impact of a change of tempo on the musical character and musical outcomes. A tempo of 70 quarter note beats to the minute sounds quite slow and yet 80 quarter note beats to the minute sounds fast. Generally, there is not a great amount of performance detail indicated in ragtime music although where opportunity arises when repeating sections performers need to explore dynamic range. The formal pattern of Joplin’s ragtime pieces generally have the structure of the typical American March which can be represented as Intro AA BB AA Link CC DD. Piano accompanists are advised to make use of the sustaining pedal although this aspect of the performance detail has not been indicated in the music score. The clarinet in Bb parts have been appended so as to allow players to perhaps share the repeats. Piano accompaniments are available as mp3 downloads at tempi of 76, 72, and 68 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The repeats are played in the accompaniments and there is a four bar count in at the beginning with bar 4 being silent. Close

The Easy Winners arr. flute, clarinet in B Flat & piano

This is an excellent ensemble piece in that it allows for great flexibility in instrument combinations. In this arrangement for flute, clarinet in Bb Read More...

This is an excellent ensemble piece in that it allows for great flexibility in instrument combinations. In this arrangement for flute, clarinet in Bb and piano the sounding key is Ab The realisation tempo is 76 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute whilst the repeats are not played. What is interesting about performing this piece is the impact of a change of tempo on the musical character and musical outcomes. A tempo of 70 quarter note beats to the minute sounds quite slow and yet 80 quarter note beats to the minute sounds fast. Generally, there is not a great amount of performance detail indicated in ragtime music although where opportunity arises when repeating sections performers need to explore dynamic range. The formal pattern of Joplin’s ragtime pieces generally have the structure of the typical American March which can be represented as Intro AA BB AA Link CC DD. Piano accompanists are advised to make use of the sustaining pedal although this aspect of the performance detail has not been indicated in the music score. Piano accompaniments are available as mp3 downloads at tempi of 68, 72, and 76 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The repeats are played in the accompaniments and there is a four bar count in at the beginning with bar 4 being silent. Close

The Easy Winners arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This is an excellent ensemble piece in that it allows for great flexibility in instrument combinations. In this arrangement, sounding in Ab the clari Read More...

This is an excellent ensemble piece in that it allows for great flexibility in instrument combinations. In this arrangement, sounding in Ab the clarinet in Bb part is transposed in both the full score and the appended solo part. The realisation tempo is 76 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute whilst the repeats are not played. What is interesting about performing this piece is the impact of a change of tempo on the musical character and musical outcomes. A tempo of 70 quarter note beats to the minute sounds quite slow and yet 80 quarter note beats to the minute sounds fast. Generally, there is not a great amount of performance detail indicated in ragtime music although where opportunity arises when repeating sections performers need to explore dynamic range. The formal pattern of Joplin’s ragtime pieces generally have the structure of the typical American March which can be represented as Intro AA BB AA Link CC DD. Piano accompanists are advised to make use of the sustaining pedal although this aspect of the performance detail has not been indicated in the music score. Piano accompaniments are available as mp3 downloads at tempi of 72, 76, and 80 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The repeats are played in the accompaniments and there is a four bar count in at the beginning with bar 4 being silent. Close

Notturno arr. clarinet choir

The arrangement is scored for four clarinets and bass clarinet and uses the first theme from the third movement of Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2 in Read More...

The arrangement is scored for four clarinets and bass clarinet and uses the first theme from the third movement of Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2 in D. Dating from 1881 the movement is commonly referred to as “Notturno” meaning night piece and is a very melodic movement and like much of Borodin’s music is very adaptable to being played by a number of different instrument combinations. There are 4 sections in the arrangement – theme, repeat of the theme with a varied and fuller accompaniment, the theme played in canon and a closing section which can best be be described as a coda. A tempo of 70 quarter note beats to the minute is used in the realisation and there are some octave transposition in the parts whilst the appoggiaturas that appear in the string quartet score have been omitted. Wherever possible material from the original work has been incorporated into the arrangement whilst individual clarinet parts are appended to a copy of the full score. Close

Notturno arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

The arrangement for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment uses the first theme from the third movement of Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2 in D. the Read More...

The arrangement for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment uses the first theme from the third movement of Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2 in D. the movement is commonly referred to as “Notturno” meaning night piece. It is a very melodic movement and like much of Borodin’s music is very adaptable to being played by a number of different instrument combinations. There are 4 sections in the arrangement – theme, repeat of the theme with a varied and fuller accompaniment, the theme played in canon and a closing section which can best be be described as a coda. A tempo of 70 quarter note beats to the minute is used in the realisation and there are some octave transposition in the parts whilst the appoggiaturas that appear in the string quartet score have been omitted. Wherever possible material from the original work, which dates from 1881, has been incorporated into the arrangement. An individual clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to a copy of the full score which is notated at pitch.. The clarinet player has the option of exploring the octave range of the instrument and there are some octave transpositions notably in bar 72. Close

Plaisir d’amour arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This music originates as a classical French art song which has over the years has been arranged and performed in many different styles and contexts. I Read More...

This music originates as a classical French art song which has over the years has been arranged and performed in many different styles and contexts. In this arrangement in the key of Eb, a tempo of just 43 dotted quarter notes to the the minute is used in the realisation although there a slight speeding up for the piu mosso section. As far as the solo part is concerned, there are just two ornaments which appear in the final section as a performance option whilst the acciaccaturas (crushed notes) do not sound in the realisation. This is an excellent piece to explore playing at a slow tempo. The item has been prepared with the intention of it being played as a concert piece by someone in their second year of playing a musical instrument. Listen to a number of recordings of performances particularly by singers to gain an understanding of how this music can be performed. An appropriately transposed clarinet in Bb part is appended to the full score which is notated at pitch. Close

Plaisir d’amour arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano in F

This music originates as a classical French art song which has over the years has been arranged and performed in many different styles and contexts. I Read More...

This music originates as a classical French art song which has over the years has been arranged and performed in many different styles and contexts. In this arrangement in the key of F, a tempo of just 43 dotted quarter notes to the the minute is used in the realisation although there a slight speeding up for the piu mosso section. As far as the solo part is concerned, there are just two ornaments which appear in the final section as a performance option whilst the acciaccaturas (crushed notes) do not sound in the realisation. This is an excellent piece to explore playing at a slow tempo. The item has been prepared with the intention of it being played as a concert piece by someone in their second year of playing a musical instrument. Listen to a number of recordings of performances particularly by singers to gain an understanding of how this music can be performed. An appropriately transposed clarinet in Bb part is appended to the full score which is notated at pitch. Close

Après un rêve arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

The piece has its origins as a song composed in the key of the key of C minor published in 1878 and is one of the composers most beautiful and popular Read More...

The piece has its origins as a song composed in the key of the key of C minor published in 1878 and is one of the composers most beautiful and popular melodies. This is an excellent piece for developing tonal quality and the melody needs to be played with a singing expressive legato. In this arrangement a tempo of 56 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute has been used in the realisation. The accompanist will need to make use of the sustaining pedal although this is not indicated and the score does require careful study in respect to the reading of the chromatic harmony. Fauré as a pianist and accompanist was very much regarded as something of a metronome and not considered to be very sympathetic to singers of his songs particularly when they added subtlety and nuance at the end of phrases. It would be beneficial to spend time reading through the lyrics for the song in translation to have an understanding of the music’s original context. The full score is notated at pitch whilst the appended solo part has the clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed.Accompaniments are available and play at the following tempi (1) 60 (2) 58 (3) 56 quarter note beats to the minute. There is a great range in the tempo that musicians both sing and play this movement and if the accompaniments available do not meet your requirements simply provide us with an annotated pdf score with the tempi score detail that you require and PlentyMusic will provide a bespoke accompaniment. Close

Jeanie with the light brown hair arr. flute, B Flat clarinet & bassoon

This is an arrangement for woodwind trio comprising flute , clarinet in Bb and bassoon of a parlour song by Stephen Foster dating from 1854 and whils Read More...

This is an arrangement for woodwind trio comprising flute , clarinet in Bb and bassoon of a parlour song by Stephen Foster dating from 1854 and whilst it has become a favourite, the song was not a commercial success and hardly known in Foster's own lifetime. A version by the violinist Heifetz became very popular in the 1940's. The musical arrangement retains the harmonic outline of Stephen Foster's song although some of the rhythmic detail of the melody has been edited. The small ornamental notes, apart from the acciaccaturas (crushed notes), in the melody line of the arrangement are optional and do not sound in the realisation. Individual instrument parts are appended to the full score. Close

Jeanie with the light brown hair arr. B Flat clarinet & piano

A parlour song by Stephen Foster dating from 1854 and whilst it has become a favourite, the song was not a commercial success and hardly known in Fost Read More...

A parlour song by Stephen Foster dating from 1854 and whilst it has become a favourite, the song was not a commercial success and hardly known in Foster's own lifetime. A version by the violinist Heifetz became very popular in the 1940's. The musical arrangement retains the harmonic outline of Stephen Foster's song although some of the rhythmic detail of the melody has been edited. Although the crushed notes (acciaccaturas) can be played and sound in the realisation, the small ornamental notes in the melody line of the arrangement are optional and are not sounded in the realisation. The full score is notated at pitch whilst the appended solo part has been appropriately transposed. Close

Valse arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

The Waltz was a popular musical form during the romantic period favoured particularly in the salon or drawing room context. The movement needs to move Read More...

The Waltz was a popular musical form during the romantic period favoured particularly in the salon or drawing room context. The movement needs to move along with a clear one in a bar feel and I would suggest leaving out the small notes when learning the movement. The realisation tempo is at a (considered) 56 dotted quarter notes to the minute and I would suggest that it should be played at a faster tempo of at least 66 dotted quarter (crotchets) notes to the minute. Played at a faster tempo the players will need to possess very good performance techniques for their individual instruments. There are no repeats in the realisation. Whilst the full score copy is notated with the clarinet in Bb at sounding pitch the appended solo part has been appropriately transposed. Close

Theme and Variations arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Fernando Sor's Theme and Variations from L’Encouragement is possibly more classical in spirit certainly from the thematic point of view. The me Read More...

Fernando Sor's Theme and Variations from L’Encouragement is possibly more classical in spirit certainly from the thematic point of view. The melodic material does need to be clearly articulated whilst harmonically it does follow the pattern of the cantabile movement in that there is a change to the tonic minor key. The tempo of each variation can in performance be considered as a separate movement and the tempo at which the music sections are played will be very much determined by the technical facility of the solo instrument player. One of the technical challenges is to articulate the triplet figurations with clarity. This Theme and Variations has an extended coda which can lead to a repeat of theme if it is being performed as a separate movement. As is often the case in variations the musical intensity increases as the movement progresses. The realisations in their very nature tend to lack the nuance of a performance and tend to be on the rushed side although they provide an excellent means for auditioning pieces. The repeats are not played in the realisation. It would be wise to spend time listening to guitar duet versions to appreciate the musical range that features in this appealing work. The appended score has the solo clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed whilst the full score copy is notated with the clarinet at sounding pitch. Close

Cantabile arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Fernando Sor's L'Encouragement Opus 34, originally for guitar duet, comprises three movements intended to be performed as a continuous movement althou Read More...

Fernando Sor's L'Encouragement Opus 34, originally for guitar duet, comprises three movements intended to be performed as a continuous movement although its three sections can easily be performed as separate movements and this is how they are presented on the www.plentymusic.co.uk website. The music dates from 1828 and consequently belongs to the romantic era and is a very good example of salon or drawing room music intended for small audiences at home rather than the concert hall. Fernando Sor, was a Spanish composer, born into a military family who has often been to as referred to as the Beethoven of the guitar. Whilst not considered to be a great composer he did nevertheless compose many attractive works that are suitable for performance in arrangements such as this. The piano essentially fulfills the role of the second guitar part with some additions to make the part more pianistic. Where appropriate barring and note values have been clarified as much for the eye than for musical reasons. Cantabile the first movement from L'Encouragement is in ABA (ternary) form although the repeat is a varied repeat. The realisation has a tempo of 54 dotted quarter note beats (crotchet beats ) to the minute and the musical content combines a pastoral feel with a quite stately tempo. The melody line needs to be delivered with a singing legato whilst the movement should be played communicating a sense of two beats to the bar. The appended score has the solo clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed whilst the full score copy is notated with the clarinet at sounding pitch. Close

The Teddy Bears Picnic arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This very familiar character piece dating from 1907 was originally composed in standard march form but the musical content has since been rearranged. Read More...

This very familiar character piece dating from 1907 was originally composed in standard march form but the musical content has since been rearranged. In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment sounding in the key of F a tempo of 96 dotted quarter notes is used in the realisation. Instrumentalists have the option of playing a shortened form of the piece ending on the first eighth note (quaver) of bar 88 or playing the repeat section as heard in the realisation. There isn't too much score detail in the arrangement and as the music originates as a march understandably in a performance there does not have to be many variations of tempo. Observe that the full score has the clarinet part notated at pitch whilst the appended solo part has the clarinet part appropriately transposed. There are three piano accompaniments available playing at (1) 96 (2) 92 (3)88 dotted quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute. Close

Dedicatoria arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

A short but quite charming piece from the composer's Opus 1 collection. In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb accompanied by piano, the tempo of the Read More...

A short but quite charming piece from the composer's Opus 1 collection. In this arrangement for clarinet in Bb accompanied by piano, the tempo of the realisation is 62 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute although there are some slowing downs and speedings up in the performance. As the piece is quite short only the full score copy is available as a download with the clarinet part appropriately transposed. The melody needs to be played in a legato singing style whilst the score needs to be studied so that the rhythmic intention of bars 9 and 11 is clearly understood by players. The melodic line in bars 10 and 12 needs to played as if as it is independent of the triplet figuration in the accompaniment. Understand that the music is conceived in three/sometimes four voices and dates from the late romantic period commonly referred to as the nationalist period in music history. Close

Traümerie arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Traümerie (Dreaming) was originally a piano work from Robert Schumann's Scenes of Childhood Opus 16 published in 1838. It is a very familiar piece f Read More...

Traümerie (Dreaming) was originally a piano work from Robert Schumann's Scenes of Childhood Opus 16 published in 1838. It is a very familiar piece from the romantic repertoire suited to being played by many instruments as a solo accompanied either by the piano or various forms of ensemble. There are wide tempo variations in performances of the work and I would suggest listening to different solo instruments and piano recordings. The challenge in a performance is to combine the beauty of the melody with a beauty of tone of the instrument which is being played with a sense of space and an understanding of the time elements that exist in music. Understandably because this is a piece of music from the romantic repetoire is a very emotional piece of music which can both be communicated well and also on occasions insensitively. It is excellent piece for broadening performing experience where players need to show sensitivity to the acoustic and the the best performances of this work tend not to be rushed. Whatever instrument is being played the original piano score is worth a study of its own. Players need to linger particularly on the dotted quarter notes (crotchets) and pianists will need to make use of the sustaining pedal. The harmonic language is at times quite chromatic with diminished seventh chords featured. Close

Spring Song arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

A joyous and uplifting movement both for the player and the listener. A tempo of 84 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute is suggested and used Read More...

A joyous and uplifting movement both for the player and the listener. A tempo of 84 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute is suggested and used in the realisation. Whilst a performance should not be rushed it also mustn't drag. Listen to performances of this work by different instrument combinations to form a musical picture of how the work should be performed. I would suggest that this an example of a piano piece that actually sounds much better played by a combination of instruments. Look for any repeating patterns in the music as an understanding of the formal patterns will assist players in their performances. In the arrangements for solo instrument with piano accompaniment some voicing changes have been made to the piano part to aid clarity and musicianship. Acciaccaturas and in the melody line are notated in the score but are nor realised in the playback scores. Pianists need to experiment with the sustaining pedal to obtain the sound that they want - the music editor's preference is to pedal on and off on each beat of the bar with some flexibility particularly at cadences. Close

Tango arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This is a quite charming and atmospheric salon piece dating from the 1890's suited to being played by a number of different instruments and instrument Read More...

This is a quite charming and atmospheric salon piece dating from the 1890's suited to being played by a number of different instruments and instrument combinations. It features the habanera pattern in the accompaniment often combined with a colourful melody line notated in triplets. The modal shift to flat 6th is also very suggestive of Spanish music as is the general compositional model. A tempo of 63 quarter notes to the minute is used in the realisation although tempo wise there is scope slowing down and speeding up when it is appropriate and this is reflected in the realisation. This is a an excellent piece for developing sensitive ensemble playing. The transposed solo clarinet part is appended to the full score which is notated at sounding pitch. Close

Waltz in G minor arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

A gentle lilting movement with a suggested tempo of 132 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute which is used in the realisation. This piece need Read More...

A gentle lilting movement with a suggested tempo of 132 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute which is used in the realisation. This piece needs a needs to be played with a slight speeding up and slowing down of the tempo at appropriate places in the score which is described as tempo rubato and features in much of the best Chopin playing. Understand that the realisation doesn't apply rubato in a totally satisfactory way. The octave section that features in the melody of the piano score has not be transferred to the instrument writing in the arrangements. The trill in the penultimate bar begins on the lower note and in the realisation 7 notes are sounded. The original piano work does have some additional ornaments which the performer may wish to consider adding after studying the solo piano score. The repeats are also played in the realisation. The solo clarinet part in Bb is also appended to the full music score. Close

The Happy Farmer arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

A movement from Schumann's Album for the Young Opus 68 (1848) which was composed at a very happy time in his life. This is a very uplifting movement w Read More...

A movement from Schumann's Album for the Young Opus 68 (1848) which was composed at a very happy time in his life. This is a very uplifting movement with a tempo of 110 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute used in this arrangement for clarinet in Bb accompanied by the piano. The solo part is also appended to the piano score. There is a two bar count in on the accompaniment track. Close

Escovado arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

A tempo in the range of 84-90 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended for this sunny ensemble piece sounding in the key of Bb. Ther Read More...

A tempo in the range of 84-90 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended for this sunny ensemble piece sounding in the key of Bb. There are some octave transpositions to keep the clarinet part in a convenient range and some of the articulation markings that feature in the original score have been removed or modified to help maintain a flowing melody line. The formal pattern used by the composer can be represented by the letters ABACA whilst the repeat signs have been retained in the realisation. Nazareth was an exceptionally gifted pianist and whilst the pianistic influence is understandably strong in his compositions his music which transfers well to other instruments particularly those of the plucked variety. The clarity of line in his musical textures is a strong feature of his compositional style. Escovado was composed in 1905 and dedicated to the composer's younger brother. The title is a common slang term which means smart or cunning and the piece became one of the composer's best known works. Close

Minuet in F K2 arr. B Flat clarinet and bassoon

Mozart's Minuet in F in an arrangement for Bb clarinet and bassoon in the original key of F. Mozart's work is a simply structured binary form movemen Read More...

Mozart's Minuet in F in an arrangement for Bb clarinet and bassoon in the original key of F. Mozart's work is a simply structured binary form movement. The minuet is a dance of French origin in 3/4 time and in an expanded form became important in the Classical era by often being incorporated into many symphonies. The K numbers associated with Mozart scores refers to the Köchel or catalogue numbers that describe the chronologically order of his compositions. This catalogue was created some fifty years after the composers death and K2 understandably is his second published work composed when he was 6. The clarinet part has been appropriately transposed in the score. Close

Brejeiro arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Nazareth (1863 -1934) was a Brazilian composer and pianist whose music transcribes very well from the piano to popular contemporary instruments. His c Read More...

Nazareth (1863 -1934) was a Brazilian composer and pianist whose music transcribes very well from the piano to popular contemporary instruments. His compositional style absorbs many different influences Brazilian, European, African and ragtime. He composed tangos, waltzes, polkas, sambas, galops, Scottisches and fox-trots and although classically trained was very familiar with the popular musical idioms of his day both at home and abroad. Brejeiro is described as a tango and the English translation of the Portugese word Brejeiro is impish meaning fun or mischevous. A tempo of 96 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested and a solo Bb clarinet with the appropriate transposition is appended to the full score. Close

Tico-Tico arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

IIn this arrangement of Tico-Tico for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment the sounding key is C minor/major and a tempo of 84 quarter note (crotch Read More...

IIn this arrangement of Tico-Tico for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment the sounding key is C minor/major and a tempo of 84 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is used in the realization in which the repeats are played. The clarinet part has been appropriately transposed in the appended solo part but is at pitch in the piano score. The piece is structured into three sections and the formal pattern can be represented as AABBAACCA. Dating from 1917 this Brazilian choro (lament) was composed by Abreu and whilst there is no definitive notated version it is a piece that has travelled widely in various different formats. It is an excellent ensemble piece and there are many arrangement possibilities suited to both formal or more informal music making activities. There is understandably in this Brazilian piece a strong syncopated element. Piano accompaniments are available as mp3 downloads playing at (1) 88 (2) 84 (3) 80 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute enabling players to enjoy and participate in an ensemble music activity as part of their practice routine. Close

Mvt 1. Divertimento No.3 arr. flute, clarinet in B Flat & bassoon

In this arrangement for two Bb clarinets & bassoon the sounding key is Bb and a tempo of 132 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommende Read More...

In this arrangement for two Bb clarinets & bassoon the sounding key is Bb and a tempo of 132 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended. The parts for the individual instruments are appended to the full score. This movement demonstrates the essential elements of Mozart's compositional style in a work accessible to a wide range of instruments and instrument combinations. The realisations at times just lack the rhythmic lightness that is required in a Mozart performance. His music demands playing that is accurate, consistent and sensitive stylistically. The Divertimenti (and the related Viennese Sonatinas) are relatively easy works well worth exploring. Close

Mvt 1. Divertimento No.3 arr. 2 B Flat clarinets & bassoon

In this arrangement for two Bb clarinets & bassoon the sounding key is Bb and a tempo of 132 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommende Read More...

In this arrangement for two Bb clarinets & bassoon the sounding key is Bb and a tempo of 132 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended. The parts for the individual instruments are appended to the full score. This movement demonstrates the essential elements of Mozart's compositional style in a work accessible to a wide range of instruments and instrument combinations. The realisations at times just lack the rhythmic lightness that is required in a Mozart performance. His music demands playing that is accurate, consistent and sensitive stylistically. The Divertimenti (and the related Viennese Sonatinas for piano) are relatively easy works well worth exploring. Close

The Girl with the Flaxen Hair arr. B Flat Clarinet & piano

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb and piano of this beautiful impressionist piece which dates from 1910 sounding in the key of F. The score for the cl Read More...

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb and piano of this beautiful impressionist piece which dates from 1910 sounding in the key of F. The score for the clarinet part is appended to the full score and where the high range of the instrument is to be used at the close an alternative ending is given notated in the ossia staff. The realisation lacks a little subtlety in terms of ebb and flow as far as the tempo is concerned. The best advice is that a performance should not be rushed. Debussy scores contain much score detail and the original French language has been retained in this aspect of the notation. Performers will need to read the music carefully as there are many accidentals in the score attributable to the modal shifts in the writing. Debussy was something of a rule breaker in his approach to composition concerned more with sound rather than process. I would suggest listening to several performances of the piece with different instrument combinations to understand the interpretative options that are possible. Interestingly in his scores, Debussy always put his titles at the end of his scores in his prelude collections. Close

Andante in C from Keyboard Sonata No. 10 arr. oboe, clarinet in B Flat & bassoon

A graceful movement from one of Haydn's (Hob. XVI/I) early keyboard sonatas with a melody that very much captures the spirit of the classical age. The Read More...

A graceful movement from one of Haydn's (Hob. XVI/I) early keyboard sonatas with a melody that very much captures the spirit of the classical age. The melody needs to be played in a flowing and even manner style and played at a tempo in which the music is does not seem to be rushed. The appeal of the music is very much in its simplicity whilst a tempo of 42 quarter notes (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested. The balance between the instrumental parts could possibly be improved in performance and more attention paid to the ends of the phrases which are not as well shaped in the realisation as they possibly could be. In the realisation a consistent approach to the interpretation of the ornaments is the intention but there are other solutions and additions that can be made. Performers of this work often vary and add additional ornaments in the the repeat sections and consequently no two performances of the movement are interpretated in the same way. The ornaments in this version are written out in an ossia staff but can always be omitted in the early stages of learning the piece. Close

Rondo (Sonatina) arr. two B Flat & bass clarinets

This is an attractive piece which has in the recent past been used as the basis for a pop tune. In this arrangement for two Bb clarinets ,and bass cla Read More...

This is an attractive piece which has in the recent past been used as the basis for a pop tune. In this arrangement for two Bb clarinets ,and bass clarinet of the first section of the piece, the melody is played by the first clarinet in Bb while the chords and bass are played by the second clarinet and bass clarinet respectively. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested and the sounding key is F The rondo was composed by Clementi, known in his own time as a teacher, composer, performer and even as a manufacturer of pianos spending most of his adult life living in England. His Opus 36 Sonatinas are a rich source of music for piano players. A rondo is a piece with a recurring theme although only the A or first section is featured in this improver level arrangement intended to introduce players of these instruments to ensemble playing. Close

Romanze arr. flute, clarinet in B Flat & bassoon

This is a charming piece of music in 6/8 time and taken from one of Beethoven’s Sonatina’s for piano. In this arrangement for woodwind trio compri Read More...

This is a charming piece of music in 6/8 time and taken from one of Beethoven’s Sonatina’s for piano. In this arrangement for woodwind trio comprising flute, clarinet in Bb and bassoon a tempo of 66 dotted quarter beats to the minute is recommended. The music has been transposed to the key of F and individual parts are appended to the full score. This is the second movement of Beethoven’s Sonatina in G. Whilst attributed to the composer the sonatina from which this music is from may have actually been composed by someone else. The music is from a catalogue described as an appendix. Close

Serenade arr. woodwind trio of flute,clarinet in B Flat & bassoon

This is a three part arrangement for woodwind trio comprising flute, clarinet in Bb & bassoon of this familiar piece from the string quartet repertoir Read More...

This is a three part arrangement for woodwind trio comprising flute, clarinet in Bb & bassoon of this familiar piece from the string quartet repertoire. The music possesses classical beauty and is sustained in its quality and whilst attributed to Haydn is now known to have been composed by Roman Hoffstetter. The music in the movement does sound easy to play although there are challenges in playing music of this era well and musically. In performance, the articulation of the notes needs to be consistent - the melody is to be played legato and the accompaniment staccato or at least in a detached manner. A tempo of 100 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar is suggested. Close

Theme & Variations arr. B Flat clarinet & bass clarinet

This is an two part arrangement of Beethoven's Theme and Variation on a Swiss Air WoO 64 for clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet introducing players to t Read More...

This is an two part arrangement of Beethoven's Theme and Variation on a Swiss Air WoO 64 for clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet introducing players to the elements of Classical style and more particularly to Beethoven's compositional approach . The simple theme needs to be clearly articulated and played with a detached but not staccato articulation. The WoO is short for Work without Opus Number and there are many jewels found in this category of work by Beethoven. A tempo of 132 quarter note beats to the minute is recommended for the playing of the theme and variations although variations 2 & 3 need to be played at a slightly slower tempo. Close

Any Rags? arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment of this song chorus that demonstrates many of the essential elements of an emerging popula Read More...

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment of this song chorus that demonstrates many of the essential elements of an emerging popular music style at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a characterful and musical piece suited to being played as a link between scenes in a show or something with a similar context. An arrangement for bassoon with piano accompaniment of this song chorus that demonstrates many of the essential elements of an emerging popular music style at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a characterful and musical piece suited to being played as a link between scenes in a show or something with a similar context. The piece sounds in the key of F so that clarinet part is transposed. Close

The Good Time’s Rag arr. two B Flat clarinets

An arrangement for two clarinets in Bb of this piece intended to introduce players to the musical elements that feature in ragtime. One clarinet plays Read More...

An arrangement for two clarinets in Bb of this piece intended to introduce players to the musical elements that feature in ragtime. One clarinet plays the melody whilst the other plays the accompanying bass line. A tempo of 110 quarter notes (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended. Players are welcome to repeat the 8 bars in performance possibly changing parts which have been transposed to sound in the key of Bb. Close

The Good Time’s Rag arr. B Flat & bass clarinet

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet of this piece intended to introduce players to the musical elements that feature in ragtime. The c Read More...

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet of this piece intended to introduce players to the musical elements that feature in ragtime. The clarinet in Bb plays the melody whilst the bass clarinet plays the accompanying bass line. A tempo of 110 quarter notes (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended. Players are welcome to repeat the 8 bars in performance. Both instrument parts have been transposed to sound in the key of Bb. Close

Wilson’s Rag arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

An arrangement of this ragtime waltz for clarinet in Bb accompanied by piano. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested Read More...

An arrangement of this ragtime waltz for clarinet in Bb accompanied by piano. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested and is used in the realisation. As the sounding key is F the clarinet part has been appropriately transposed. Close

Wilson’s Rag arr. clarinet in B Flat & bass clarinet

A two part arrangement of this ragtime waltz for clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is sugge Read More...

A two part arrangement of this ragtime waltz for clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested and is used in the realisation. The sounding key is F so that the instrument parts are appropriately transposed. Close

Elite Syncopations arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

Elite Syncopations is another high quality ragtime piece by Scott Joplin whose remastered piano rolls are a good source of understanding of how this Read More...

Elite Syncopations is another high quality ragtime piece by Scott Joplin whose remastered piano rolls are a good source of understanding of how this style of music should be performed. A tempo of 78 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended in this arrangement for clarinet in Bb accompanied by piano.The sounding key is Eb although the solo instrument part is appended to the full music score with the appropriate transposition. The same ragtime piece is often heard played at varying tempos but the best advice is not to play too fast. It does need to be played consistently and with simplicity even though some of the sections are technically quite challenging. Some of the repeat sections have the option of playing the melody up an octave but this may prove to be too challenging for some instrumentalists. Close

The Entertainer arr. clarinet in B flat & piano

In this arrangement of "The Entertainer" for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment the sounding key is Bb whilst a tempo of around 72 quarter note ( Read More...

In this arrangement of "The Entertainer" for clarinet in Bb with piano accompaniment the sounding key is Bb whilst a tempo of around 72 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended. The solo instrument part is appended to the full music score with the appropriate transposition. Players may well want to challenge the intermediate level that has been given for this piece because it may well be better described as being at an advanced level. Scott Joplin's The Entertainer is described as a Rag Time Two Step and was composed in 1902. The music is instantly recognisable, which is a disadvantage to any instrumentalist because as a consequence it needs to played both accurately and musically. Ragtime is the first readily identifiable modern popular music in that it has elements and links with popular music that succeeded it. Unfortunately, much ragtime music is played very badly and frequently at too fast a tempo so I would suggest listening to Scott Joplin;s own remastered piano rolls to obtain an understanding of the performance style. Ragtime music is also quite deceptive in that it sounds easy on the ear but is actually quite challenging to play. Close

El Choclo arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This very popular tango dates from 1903. The English translation of El Choclo is "The Ear of Corn." This arrangement for clarinet in Bb with a piano Read More...

This very popular tango dates from 1903. The English translation of El Choclo is "The Ear of Corn." This arrangement for clarinet in Bb with a piano accompaniment is in C minor and has the solo instrument part with the appropriate transposition appended to the full music score. In this example the transposition is also shown in the full score. A tempo of 60-66 quarter note (crotchet) notes to the minute is recommended. Players can chose whether or not to include the triplet ornamentation. An adapable piece this movement exists in arrangements for solo instruments, various duos, cafe style groups and orchestra. Ángel Villoldo (1861-1919) was an Argentinian composer and a pioneer of tango which became very popular from both the music and dancing point of view towards the end of the nineteenth century. It is popular today both in Argentina from where it originates and is a familiar and recognisable music style around the world. Close

La Paloma arr. clarinet in B Flat & bass clarinet

This improver level two part arrangement is for clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet sounding in the key Bb. A tempo of of around 60 quarter note (crotche Read More...

This improver level two part arrangement is for clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet sounding in the key Bb. A tempo of of around 60 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested. The melody needs to be played legato whilst the accompanying bass figuration should be played staccato or certainly in a detached manner. There are many different versions of this piece and the triplet figuration provides various options on how the music can be both notated and played. Sebastian Yradier was a Spanish born composer who despite the universal popularity of the piece died in obscurity in 1865. Based on the Cuban habanera rhythm, La Paloma (The Dove) was written after the composer visited Cuba around 1860 and became very popular world wide. Close

Soirée Polka arr. 3 B Flat clarinets & bass clarinet.

This is an arrangement for 3 clarinets in Bb with a bass clarinet. The polka is a lively characterful dance that originated from the area now known as Read More...

This is an arrangement for 3 clarinets in Bb with a bass clarinet. The polka is a lively characterful dance that originated from the area now known as the Czech Republic (Bohemia) and its popularity spread widely throughout Europe and subsequently North and South America. The dance is upbeat and celebratory in character and written in 2/4 time. Foster's Soirée Polka is an appealing and rhythmic piece suited to being played by a wide range of instruments and instrumental groups although the musical material needs to be played lightly. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended. The individual clarinet parts are also appended to the full music score. Stephen Foster (1826-1864) is known as the father of American music, responsible for writing over 200 songs many of which are still very well known today. His My Old Kentucky Home has been the official state song of Kentucky since 1928. He began composing as a teenager and attempted to live his life as a professional songwriter at a time before copyright laws protected a composers work so it was impossible for him to earn a decent living. Close

Soirée Polka arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

The polka is a lively characterful dance that originated from the area now known as the Czech Republic (Bohemia) and its popularity spread widely thro Read More...

The polka is a lively characterful dance that originated from the area now known as the Czech Republic (Bohemia) and its popularity spread widely throughout Europe and subsequently North and South America. The dance is upbeat and celebratory in character and written in 2/4 time. Foster's Soirée Polka is an appealing and rhythmic piece suited to being played by a wide range of instruments and instrumental groups although the musical material needs to be played lightly. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended. The solo clarinet part is appended to the full music score appropriately transposed. Stephen Foster (1826-1864) is known as the father of American music, responsible for writing over 200 songs many of which are still very well known today. His My Old Kentucky Home has been the official state song of Kentucky since 1928. He began composing as a teenager and attempted to live his life as a professional songwriter at a time before copyright laws protected a composers work so it was impossible for him to earn a decent living. Close

La Paloma arr. 2 clarinets in B Flat & string bass

This arrangement is for two clarinets in Bb and string bass. A tempo of of around 60 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested. The me Read More...

This arrangement is for two clarinets in Bb and string bass. A tempo of of around 60 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested. The melody needs to be played legato whilst the accompaniment bass figuration should be played staccato or certainly in a detached manner. There are many different versions of this piece and the triplet figuration provides various options on how the music can be both notated and played. Sebastian Yradier was a Spanish born composer who despite the universal popularity of the piece died in obscurity in 1865. Based on the Cuban habanera rhythm, La Paloma (The Dove) was written after the composer visited Cuba around 1860 and became very popular world wide. Close

La Paloma arr. 2 clarinets in B Flat & string bass

An arrangement for two clarinets in Bb and string bass of this popular piece. Sebastian Yradier was a Spanish born composer who died in obscurity in 1 Read More...

An arrangement for two clarinets in Bb and string bass of this popular piece. Sebastian Yradier was a Spanish born composer who died in obscurity in 1865. Based on the Cuban habanera rhythm, La Paloma (The Dove) was written after the composer visited Cuba around 1860 and became very popular world wide. The melody needs to be played legato whilst the accompaniment figuration should be played staccato or certainly in a detached manner. There are many different versions of this piece and the triplet figuration provides various options on how the music can be both notated and played. A tempo of of around 60 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested. Close

La Paloma arr. clarinet in B flat & piano

Sebastian Yradier was a Spanish born composer who despite the universal popularity of the piece died in obscurity in 1865. Based on the Cuban habanera Read More...

Sebastian Yradier was a Spanish born composer who despite the universal popularity of the piece died in obscurity in 1865. Based on the Cuban habanera rhythm, La Paloma (The Dove) was written after the composer visited Cuba around 1860 and became very popular world wide. The melody needs to be played legato whilst the accompaniment figuration should be played staccato or certainly in a detached manner. There are many different versions of this piece and the triplet figuration provides various options on how the music can be both notated and played. A tempo of of around 60 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested. The solo clarinet part, transposed to the appropriate key, is also appended to the full music score. An accompaniment is also available. Close

Le Piccadilly arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This march inspired by the music of the ragtime era is a cabaret piece featuring the cakewalk rhythm which was popular in Paris around 1900. A tempo Read More...

This march inspired by the music of the ragtime era is a cabaret piece featuring the cakewalk rhythm which was popular in Paris around 1900. A tempo of 96 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested for this concise cheerful piece dating from 1904. The solo instrument score with the appropriate transposition is appended to the full score. Close

Over the Waves arr. clarinet in B Flat & piano

This melody is very much associated with the music of funfairs, trapeze artists and fairground organs and has even featured in the MGM film "The Great Read More...

This melody is very much associated with the music of funfairs, trapeze artists and fairground organs and has even featured in the MGM film "The Great Caruso." Rosas was a Mexican composer and violinist who began his career as a street musician. After a visit to Cuba in 1894 he became very poorly and sadly died at the young age of 26. "Over the Waves" (Sobre las Olas) was published in Mexico in 1888 and has become one of the best known Latin American pieces and has been interpreted by many stylistically different types of performing groups. This improver level (second year players) waltz movement is in ternary ABA form is an ideal ensemble piece. The realisation plays back at 60 dotted half note (minim) beats to the minute and players need to communicate a one to the bar feel in their playing. A clarinet in Bb part appropriately transposed is appended to the full music score. Piano accompaniments are available to be downloaded at tempi of (1) 60 (2) 58 and (3) 56 dotted half note (minim) beats to the minute. Close

Polonaise in G minor arr. clarinet in B Flat & bassoon

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb and bassoon of this characterful and rhythmic piece in binary (AB) form in the key of G minor.

Polonaise in G min. arr. B Flat & bass clarinet

An arrangement for clarinet and bass clarinet of this characterful and rhythmic piece in binary (AB) form in the key of G minor.

March in C arr. clarinet in B Flat & bass clarinet

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet of this lively and popular dance by C.P.E.Bach

Musette BWV App.126 arr. clarinet in B Flat & bassoon

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb and bassoon of this lively rhythmic movement. Notes need to be clearly articulated and there are some quite challen Read More...

An arrangement for clarinet in Bb and bassoon of this lively rhythmic movement. Notes need to be clearly articulated and there are some quite challenging rhythms to communicate in the middle section. Close