Program Notes in English:
The Sonata for Clarinet and Piano is dedicated to the French clarinet virtuoso Guy Dangain. The work is in three movements which are played without interruption. .
The first movement presents two contrasting diatonic themes against a constantly shifting rhythmic background. After a brief recitativo passage, the piano exposes a slow, melancholy waltz theme, which is then continued in the clarinet. The final movement uses the three themes already introduced in the first two movements in contrasting rhythmic sections which use elements of Eastern European folk music.
The work opens with the three wind instruments in a motet-like texture which are supported by the three stringed instruments which play rising scalar ostinati in independant rythmnic patterns, which are based on Azeri Mugham modes. A second section features "hocketed" passages for the winds with melodic interjections by the three stringed instruments. A Unison climax leads to a repeated twelve bar poly-tonal improvised section. Finally the mounting ostinati lead the ensemble higher and higher to fade off in the silence of the night sky
Notes en Français:
La Sonate pour clarinette et piano est dédié au clarinettiste virtuose français Guy Dangain. L’œuvre est écrite en trois mouvements qui sont interprétées sans pause.
La première mouvement présente deux thèmes tonales contrastantes, avec une accompagnement rythmiquement changeante. Après un bref récitatif, le piano introduit une thème mélancolique de valse-lente, qui est après reprise par la clarinette. La mouvement finale utilise les trois thèmes déjà introduites dans les deux premières mouvements dans le contexte des passages rythmiques qui explorent les aspects de la musique folklorique de l’Europe de l’Est.