Into the Depths : for contrabass clarinet and piano
- Submitting institution
-
University of Nottingham, The
- Unit of assessment
- 33 - Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
- Output identifier
- 1406296
- Type
- J - Composition
- Month
- July
- Year
- 2018
- URL
-
https://uniofnottm.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/UniversityofNottinghamD33REF2021Submission/Em06PSt7bVpFrGpVP28rZhMBtQcQDXh5vpzRa2XnZOf5EQ?e=QJf5yF
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
-
0
- Research group(s)
-
-
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- Yes
- Additional information
- 'Into the Depths' is a 10-minute composition for the unusual duo of contrabass clarinet and piano. Researched and developed in a series of workshop sessions with low-clarinet specialist Sarah Watts, the work investigates the palette of sonorities available on the contrabass clarinet. In particular, it explores those sounds that distinguish the instrument from the bass clarinet and other low woodwinds, including:
• the rich lowest register (occasionally inflected with growling flutter tongue) and the striking altissimo register reminiscent of the human voice;
• the instrument’s particularly resonant, percussive slap tongue;
• the spectral multiphonic glissando ‘elephant effect’ achieved by sliding freely through the overtone series over a notated fundamental pitch, particularly effective on this low instrument.
The author's key research aims were to:
• explore the instrument’s ‘lyrical’ potential, which had been under-explored in previous repertoire;
• craft a work which showcases and challenges the virtuoso player but remains technically feasible;
• incorporate the above techniques in ways that supported the author's rhythmic and melodic phrasing without reducing them to abstract sonic objects;
• and carefully balance the contrabass clarinet with the piano both dynamically and musically.
In her ‘Music for Contrabass Clarinet’ catalogue (http://www.sarahkwatts.co.uk/contrabass.html), Watts identified only five previous works for this combination, including two that are very brief. Since its premiere on 8 July 2018, at the International Clarinet Association’s ‘Clarinetfest’ in Belgium, 'Into the Depths' has become a key reference work for clarinettists. Over 50 composers have written new contrabass clarinet works for Watts since this first commission.
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -
