Clarinet and piano

[vaneramos]

Tuesday evening I drove downtown to photograph the sun setting over the Speed River. The Adagio from Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 (1901) came on the radio. I pulled into a parking lot, turned off the engine, sat listening to the solo clarinet express its yearning dialogue with the rippling keyboard, and watched light over the water soften toward dusk.

Although a prominent pianist, Rachmaninoff must have adored the clarinet. He also gave it a drifting, meditative solo in the Adagio of his Symphony No. 2 (1908). These are two of the most romantic slow orchestral movements ever written.

It can be dramatic when a second solo instrument momentarily grabs the spotlight during a concerto. The violin's exuberant outburst during the finale of Dvorak's Cello Concerto comes to mind, also the opening melody of the Andante from Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, presented elegantly and lyrically by the cello. Such diversions require remarkable inspiration and skill to avoid detracting from the primary soloist. If successful, they evoke the passionate interactions of two lovers, and become the most memorable passages of the compositions.

Water and sky also appeared as soulmates, the quietly rippling Speed listening to nostaligic strains of departing Sun.

Comments

[rsc.livejournal.com]

The clarinet is one of my favorite instruments. Also, that cello solo from the Brahms 2nd is one of my favorite passages (that whole movement is pretty amazing -- hell, the whole concerto is).

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Clarinet and piano are my instruments, although if I had to pick a favourite it would probably be cello. One of my favourite pieces for clarinet is Brahms' clarinet quintet.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

The clarinet sonatas are pretty impressive, too. And although I knew the clarinet quintet at least through my teens, it was a revelation, as an adult, to discover the clarinet trio, a piece which I don't think is played anywhere near as often.

Of course, if I had to choose a clarinet quintet, it might be the Mozart over the Brahms. (Yes, I know, Mozart doesn't really speak to you.)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Mozart doesn't really speak to you.

That's not exactly true. While I feel indifferent toward some of Mozart's compositions, many others I could not do without.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Oh, sorry. I must have misremembered what you said about this.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

hey Van,
both great images
the top one really stunning

thanks for the email. I'll respond in the next day or two. been out of it mentally

love
ya
munkey

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm growing fond of that shot, too. A little of the beauty that's around me. Couldn't capture light like that adequately with the previous camera.

Take care and be well.

Love,
Van