American clarinet solos

Question

I realize this may be a silly question, but I was hoping for your help. I'm going to have my senior recital in 2 years on 30 November. I picked that date because it'd be Samuel Clemens [Mark Twain]'s 175th birthday. (I'm a double major in music teaching and American literature.)

I was hoping to have a program that somewhat fit along that "theme." I don't know all that much about clarinet literature yet, and I'd like to start researching possibilities now to see if it's possible to do.

So I'm wondering, what are some good clarinet solos from American composers that I could look into doing? (Style and era are not really an issue at the moment.)

Also, if there are any compositions for other instruments, go on and suggest them too. I play multiple instruments, and I'd like to showcase that at the recital as well if able. However, my focus is on clarinet.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Copland Clarinet Concerto is the one that springs to mind immediately.  Wikipedia also brings up a couple more concerti...

- Bernstein's Prelude, Fugue and Riffs

- John Adams' Gnarly Buttons (love the name!!)

- John Williams has written a clarinet concerto

There are more (useful page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarinet_co... but they're not composers I'm familiar with.

Bernstein has also written a clarinet sonata, as has John Cage - don't know either of the works though!

Answer 2

You sound like a very solid thinker.