Character Sketches - Clarinet and Piano

Character Sketches was commissioned by clarinetist Anne Watson. In writing each movement, I hoped to capture the most entertaining aspects of Ms. Watson's personality. In the first movement, "Outspoken," I pictured a conversation developing being the clarinet and piano. The second movement, "Passionate," starts with a smooth, lyrical melody in the clarinet with a calm steady accompaniement in the piano. In the middle section of this movement, the clarinet becoems more passionate with its dotted rhythms, and the piano takes on a mocking tone with its minor-second clusters. Movement III, "Blue," begins with a slow, bluesy feel and moves into a quicker section with a jazzy bass line in the piano. The last movement, "Playful," begins with a bright, cheery, light melody in the clarinet coupled with a fast waltz-like accompaniment that implies mischief.