Instrumentation: 2,2,2,2/4,2,3,1/timp.+2/hp/Solo Bb Clarinet, Solo Cello/ Strings.

Duration: ca. 12 minutes

 

Performance history:  Premiere performance on November 30th, 2009 at the Massry Center for the Arts, The College of Saint Rose, Albany, New York by The College of Saint Rose Orchestra, David Bebe, conductor, with Bruce Craig Roter, Clarinet and Cicely Parnas, Cello.

Program Notes:

The Double Concerto for Clarinet, Cello, and Orchestra represents some of the composer’s earliest influences, including Stravinsky, Copland, Hindemith, and Bartok. The choice of solo instrumentation was inspired by the composer’s relationship with his eldest brother Eric, a cellist (while he himself played the clarinet).

The one movement work is divided into three large sections: an Introduction and Allegro, a lyrical Andante, and a concluding Allegro which recapitulates and develops previous thematic material.  The concerto concludes with an extended cadenza for the two soloists.  Stylistically, the work demonstrates an eclecticism that has remained a hallmark of Roter’s style ever since.  Aggressive dissonance and non-traidic sonorities are balanced with music that is more lyrically and traditionally conceived.  While primarily homophonic, the concerto also demonstrates the composer’s interest in counterpoint, the weaving together of individual melodies to create intricate textures.