Concerto

Premiered October 12, 2021, Corey Mackey, clarinet and the Texas Christian University Symphony Orchestra, Germán Gutiérrez, conductor,  Forth Worth, TX

Read about the premiere concert

Composed and dedicated to clarinetist, Corey Mackey

Composed in collaboration with clarinetist Dr. Corey Mackey, this three-movement concerto presents three distinct musical impressions led by the lyrically virtuosic clarinet solo. Each movement progressively gains a broader perspective of time and space, from the minute movements of the hummingbird, broadening to the majesty of mountains and ending with a vast impression of traveling through the universe at the speed of light. Movement one, Trochilidae-Allegro, celebrates the brilliant animation of the hummingbird. Emily Dickenson called it “a resonance of emerald, a rush of cochineal”. The clarinet solo imitates its mercurial flight darting and hovering in and around the orchestra. The second movement, Spiritual Adaptation to Higher Altitudes-Adagio, illustrates he slow and dramatic ascent of the clarinet through a broad and majestic orchestral soundscape culminating with an ecstatic summit vista. The third movement, Scherzo at the Speed of Light-Vivace, presents a sonic impression of sound and light in the universe, the clarinet spinning and gliding effortlessly through space arriving triumphantly in its home key of Bb  in the final measures.

Professional orchestra parts rental  $400 (negotiable)

Discounted parts rental price for university, conservatory, and training orchestra performance  $300

Add to cart then click on "Checkout" on the homepage to pay.

Please contact TheComposerStudio for further support:   thecomposerstudio@gmail.com 

Performance by Corey Mackey and the TCU Symphony Orchestra

This version of the Concerto for Piccolo Clarinet was composed for clarinetist Fàtima Boix Canto’ and premiered on July 15th, 2017 at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, CA performed with the Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra conducted by Matthew  Aucoin.

Read about the premiere

View video of premiere performance

Commissioned and dedicated by Fátima Boix

This version of my Concerto for Piccolo Clarinet was written specifically for clarinetist,  Fátima Boix.

“The clarinet was my first instrument.  I always thought it was a magical instrument because I could travel through an extraordinary world of sound when I played it with its deep honking notes, the rich and mellow chalumeau tones, its breathy middle register, its powerful and ringing clarion voice, and its piercing tippy top notes!  I switched to piano when I was in high school.  Ever since, I have missed that instrument.  So, when I met clarinetist John Bruce Yeh of the Chicago Symphony when I was the composer-in-residence for the Lyric Opera of Chicago and he invited me to compose a piece for  his ensemble, Chicago Pro Musica, I felt this great excitement of returning to my musical roots.  However, he wanted me to compose a piece for the piccolo Eb clarinet an instrument that I considered an orchestra color instrument designed  for the over orchestrated music of Wagner and Strauss-not the music that I chose to draw inspiration from at the time.  Instead, I drew my inspiration from the french high-wire artist, Philippe Petit who was making news in the late 1980s. I  decided that I wanted to make this little but powerful instrument fly high on a high tension wire!

“A unique Solo Concerto for the Eb clarinet, colorful, virtuosic, high-flying, interactive, and exciting!”  John Bruce Yeh, Assistant Principal Clarinet, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Professional orchestra parts rental  $400 (negotiable)

Discounted parts rental price for university, conservatory, and training orchestra performance  $300

Add to cart then click on "Checkout" on the homepage to pay.

Parts rental includes a piano reduction score.

Please contact TheComposerStudio for further support:   thecomposerstudio@gmail.com 

Performance by Fátima Boix and the Academy Festival Orchestra

Premiered November of 1987 by Chicago Pro Music at Orchestra Hall in Chicago.

“The clarinet was my first instrument.  I always thought it was a magical instrument because I could travel through an extraordinary world of sound when I played it with its deep honking notes, the rich and mellow chalumeau tones, its breathy middle register, its powerful and ringing clarion voice, and its piercing tippy top notes!  I switched to piano when I was in high school.  Ever since, I have missed that instrument.  So, when I met clarinetist John Bruce Yeh of the Chicago Symphony when I was the composer-in-residence for the Lyric Opera of Chicago and he invited me to compose a piece for  his ensemble, Chicago Pro Musica, I felt this great excitement of returning to my musical roots.  However, he wanted me to compose a piece for the piccolo Eb clarinet an instrument that I considered an orchestra color instrument designed  for the over orchestrated music of Wagner and Strauss-not the music that I chose to draw inspiration from at the time.  Instead, I drew my inspiration from the french high-wire artist, Philippe Petit who was making news in the late 1980s. I  decided that I wanted to make this little but powerful instrument fly high on a high tension wire!  So,  Concerto for Piccolo Clarinet was composed for and dedicated to clarinetist John Bruce Yeh, who played the heck out of that piece.”

“A unique Solo Concerto for the Eb clarinet, colorful, virtuosic, high-flying, interactive, and exciting!” John Bruce Yeh, Assistant Principal Clarinet, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

” (Concerto for Piccolo Clarinet) is an absorbing and well-made piece,”  John von Rhein, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

“Neil’s Concerto for Piccolo Clarinet achieved another-worldly atmosphere with its fluid melodies for E-Flat clarinet…”  Wilma Salisbury, CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER