Extinction Events

This four movement work for clarinet choir lasts about 11 minutes and is for very advanced players. The movements are: Buzzy Delights (Honey Bees), It Isn't Easy Being a Cuckoo, Jaguar Surprise, and Walrus Jump.Each movement imagines a different animal or insect living in its habitat as it gradually deteriorates. One might think this would be sad, violent music, but each earthly creature is shown in its musical habitat where it happily does what it does best....bees buzzing around flowers, cuckoos gently calling in the forest, Walruses jumping not so gracefully onto sea ice, Jaguars quietly stalking their prey. The habitat changes are depicted by gradual use of unstable scales, and the sometimes hidden ancient tune of the Dies Irae, the Day of Wrath.The point I wish to make is how humans must be watchful of wildlife habitats because we are all in this limited world together. Where wild creatures go, so do we. It was best said by Jane Goodall: Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved.The parts included are: Eb soprano clarinet, Bb clarinet 1-2-3, alto clarinet (with an alternate 4th Bb clarinet part), bass clarinet, and BBb Contra/EEb Contralto.