Fantasy for Bass Clarinet

About

While there is no strict programme to the piece, I like to think there are programmatic elements within it: namely contrasts of fast and slow, loud and soft, surprise and predictability, tension and relaxation, vigour and repose. In addition, the piece explores the relationship between two wind instruments – the bass clarinet and the human voice – through both dissonant and consonant relationships, including unisons, octave unisons and one note being a partial of the other’s fundamental.

Fantasy was written for the composer’s Honours-level Composition folio and for Anna McGregor’s third-year bass clarinet Performance recital at The University of Auckland. It was first performed at the Douglas Lilburn Trust Competition Prize Concert, on 12 October 2007 at The University of Auckland Music Theatre, where the composer won First Prize in the General Composition category, and the performer won the Performer’s Prize.

Acknowledgement goes to Andrew Uren, Eve de Castro-Robinson and Ros Dunlop for their invaluable assistance in the development of this piece.