Par SAINT-SAENS CAMILLE. Camille Saint-Saëns composed this Romance, Op. 51, in 1877, originally in the key of D major for cello and piano. The form of the piece is relatively simple, opening with a lyrical melody over a repetitive and somewhat rhythmic accompaniment. The middle section modulates to the key of the flattened 6th scale degree (B-flat major), using this to arrive at the dominant chord, in which there are some pseudo cadenza-like moments. Following this, a return to the opening melody with a slightly modified accompaniment, and subsequently a brief coda. To better accommodate the bass clarinet, the entire piece has been transposed up a half-step from the original version into a morecomfortable key of E-flat major. Additionally, for much of the piece, the solo part has been lowered by an octave, as to make the piece generally more accessible to students. Should there be a desire to hear the piece more in the range of the original version, one could simply play it on a standard B-flat clarinet to achieve this effect. Though only about four minutes in length, this relatively short vignette captures much of the true essence of Saint-Saëns, not only through the harmonic progressions and accompanimental figures used, but also demonstrating his gift of turning a 'simple' melody into something extraordinary. Camille Saint-Saëns composed this Romance, Op. 51, in 1877, originally in the key of D major for cello and piano. The form of the piece is relatively simple, opening with a lyrical melody over a repetitive and somewhat rhythmic accompaniment. The middle section modulates to the key of the flattened 6th scale degree (B-flat major), using this to arrive at the dominant chord, in which there are some pseudo cadenza-like moments. Following this, a return to the opening melody with a slightly modified accompaniment, and subsequently a brief coda. To better accommodate the bass clarinet, the entire piece has been transposed up a half-step from the original version into a morecomfortable key of E-flat major. Additionally, for much of the piece, the solo part has been lowered by an octave, as to make the piece generally more accessible to students. Should there be a desire to hear the piece more in the range of the original version, one could simply play it on a standard B-flat clarinet to achieve this effect. Though only about four minutes in length, this relatively short vignette captures much of the true essence of Saint-Saëns, not only through the harmonic progressions and accompanimental figures used, but also demonstrating his gift of turning a 'simple' melody into something extraordinary./ Répertoire / Clarinette Basse et Piano

Par DAVID FERDINAND. Although Ferdinand David is mostly known as a composer for a couple of his instrumental works, namely a Concertino for Trombone, and this Concertino, Op. 12 for bassoon, perhaps he should be most well-known as the violinist who premiered the Violin Concerto of Felix Mendelssohn in 1845. He was appointed as concertmaster of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig when Mendelssohn, a childhood friend, became the principal conductor in 1835. This Concertino for bassoon also exists in a version for viola, and now subsequently this edition for bass clarinet. It is a fun solo in two parts, first an aria-like melody, followed by a technical 'Presto agitato.' The key has been kept the same asthe original version, and although it is preferred to perform with an extended range instrument, indications are made for adapting it to a standard range bass clarinet. Although Ferdinand David is mostly known as a composer for a couple of his instrumental works, namely a Concertino for Trombone, and this Concertino, Op. 12 for bassoon, perhaps he should be most well-known as the violinist who premiered the Violin Concerto of Felix Mendelssohn in 1845. He was appointed as concertmaster of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig when Mendelssohn, a childhood friend, became the principal conductor in 1835. This Concertino for bassoon also exists in a version for viola, and now subsequently this edition for bass clarinet. It is a fun solo in two parts, first an aria-like melody, followed by a technical 'Presto agitato.' The key has been kept the same asthe original version, and although it is preferred to perform with an extended range instrument, indications are made for adapting it to a standard range bass clarinet./ Répertoire / Clarinette Basse et Piano