The bass clarinet is an instrument that tends to get disrespected
since it isn’t used that often in solo or chamber music circles.
My favourite usage comes from Miles Davis' album, Bitches
Brew. The bass clarinet is given a central role in improvisation
and it's distinctive timbre gives the orchestration a unique
twist to what's normally expected in jazz instrumentation. The
spirit of this usage is what influenced the bass clarinet part
within "Alchemist's Brew".
I had the opportunity to read the novel, "The Alchemist" by Paulo
Coelho, before composing this piece. I was inspired by the
positive message that it espouses, the adventurous journey that the
lead character takes part in, and the imagery that the text evokes
of the old world. In this piece, I explore elements of Middle Eastern music including
the usage of polymetres and scale patterns; sonorities from a part of
the world that I find very fascinating.
Dedicated to my good, bass clarinet playing, friend, Michele Jacot!
- Frank Horvat
