Private Game

Description

Clarinet in Bb, Violoncello — Private Game for clarinet and cello (1979) was composed at the invitation of the Da Capo Chamber Players in connection with their tenth anniversary in 1980.xa0 I was asked to write a short piece incorporating in any way desired, the group’s name into its format, which turned out to be an interesting challenge.xa0 Repetition is the essence of comprehensibility.xa0 But – da capo, today?xa0 While the initial temptation was to use the term loosely, I found myself intrigued by the idea of having strict repetition, without giving the appearance of arbitrary formalism.xa0 My solution: there are three brief da capo sections interlaced into the piece in a 1-2-1-3-2-3 sequence.xa0 1 and 2 appear at key points structurally, 3 is more transitory and ornamental.xa0 They are essential for they give the piece coherence, but they may or may not be consciously perceived as repetitions on first hearing.xa0 They are my private game.