Pacific Serenade

Description

Clarinet in Bb, Piano — Written in 1998, Pacific Serenade is a “peaceful serenade:” serenade as in: romantic, quasi improvised music which should be sung at night under the stars. The main “singer” here is the clarinet. In general the music is extremely quiet, delicate, sensuous and sentimental. The sensuousness is created by Latin song elements especially the nostalgic Brazilian folk song, which is at times combined with Blues style melody and harmony. The string quartet has a technically expressively challenging part which is not merely the accompaniment to the clarinet, but rather it is responsible for setting the mood in which the clarinet sings. This is Aguila’s opus 59 and it was commissioned by Pacific Serenades Ensemble of California who premiered the work in 1998. Of course the ensemble's name inspired the name of this work as well as its mood. In an age of boom boxes, media bombardment of information and pop culture becoming increasingly aggressive, boisterous and violent, I felt the need to write just the opposite… to show once more that less is more. -- Miguel del Aguila A romantic serenade meant to be performed at night under the stars, with the clarinet as the main singer. Two of the four movements are in the Brazilian chôro style. The composer writes: "performers may add their own bends, portamenti, wide vibratos and any other jazz effects that will enhance the expressivity of the melodic line."