Clare Shore
Sojourn 3 - Clarinette en La Solo

The B-flat clarinet version was commissioned by and dedicated to clarinetist Eugene Jones, was premiered by Mr. Jones on a concert of chamber music at East Tennessee University in Johnson City, Tennessee, on February 28, 2010. This solo is the third in a series of works by the composer titled “Sojourn” for solo instruments. The single-movement work utilizes a Silesian folk song from Schlesische Volkslieder (used in the hymn Fairest Lord Jesus) as its basis. The opening section features material in quasi-Stravinskian rhythm and meter alternating with material hinting strongly at the folk tune and its variants. Melodic material is gradually transformed to the area of D major as the fantasy-like treatment of the folk tune begins. After a complete statement in D major, a free variation ensues, also in D major, but is interrupted just before its completion by material from the opening section. Melodic transformation back to the octatonic and hybrid pitch material follows and the piece ends with a showy ascending, then diving, flourish.