Stubborn As Hell

Description

Clarinet in Bb 1, Clarinet in Bb 2 — PROGRAM NOTESSTUBBORN AS HELL was commissioned by virtuoso clarinetist Robert Spring. I heard Bob perform in September 2010 athis recital at Arizona State University – Tempe. Bob is one of those wondrous musicians who plays the most challenging pieceswritten for the instrument and makes them sound effortless. When he commissioned me, I wanted to write a piece that notonly reflected his technical and musical abilities, but also his great sense of humor, hence the title and premise of the piece.The “stubbornness” of the title refers to the manner in which the two instruments incessantly battle each other around thepitch D, and how they willfully get stuck repeating pitches and gestures.— Stacy Garrop Commissioned by and composed for celebrated clarinetist Robert Spring, Stacy Garrop has created a piece that not only reflects Spring's technical and musical abilities, but also his great sense of humor, hence the title and premise of Stubborn as Hell. The "stubbornness" of the title refers to the clarinets incessantly battling each other around common pitches, informed by a sophisticated playfulness springing from the composer's own great sense of humor. For advanced performers.