| Ned Rorem is one of the most prolific living American composers. His output includes over 300 art songs, three symphonies, concertos for nearly every instrument, numerous choral works, and a tremendous amount of chamber repertoire. His literary catalog includes sixteen books that chronicle his own life and capture his thoughts about music in the form of essays, diaries, and other collected writings. Rorem has composed eight chamber works that include the clarinet, and within these compositions, the role of the clarinet varies in scope and significance. Because there are no writings on Rorem's treatment of the clarinet in chamber music, and also because his output is so prolific, it is necessary to explore the expressive and technical aspects of the composer's clarinet writing in his chamber music. This study explores the small-scale chamber works with clarinet, and the following considerations regarding the clarinet are made: tessitura, melodic treatment, style, ornamentation, orchestration, and idiomatic aspects. Each of the works also exhibits Rorem's use of serial techniques as an organizing and developmental device. The works will be explored chronologically, beginning with a brief discussion of Eleven Studies for Eleven Players (1959) and ending with Four Colors (2003). While this study is not a performance guide, it should at the very minimum provide any clarinetist with insightful knowledge about Ned Rorem's treatment of the clarinet in his chamber music. |
