Character Sketches

Character Sketches was commissioned by clarinetist Anne Watson. In writing each movement, I hoped to capture the most entertaining aspects of Ms. Watson's personality. In the first movement, Outspoken, I pictured a conversation developing being the clarinet and piano. The second movement, Passionate, starts with a smooth, lyrical melody in the clarinet with a calm steady accompaniement in the piano. In the middle section of this movement, the clarinet becoems more passionate with its dotted rhythms, and the piano takes on a mocking tone with its minor-second clusters. Movement III, Blue, begins with a slow, bluesy feel and moves into a quicker section with a jazzy bass line in the piano. The last movement, Playful, begins with a bright, cheery, light melody in the clarinet coupled with a fast waltz-like accompaniment that implies mischief.