In the early 1990s I was getting to know the poems of Philip Larkin and was struck
by one of his earliest poems 'Going'. It is, as with many of Larkin's poems, concerned with
his acute awareness of approaching death and whilst I am not especially given to morbid
contemplation of that sort, I was captivated by his oblique suggestion of the momentous.
In the first two stanzas there is a feeling of warmth contained within the bleakness:
There is an evening coming in
Across the fields, one never seen before,
That lights no lamps.
Silken it seems at a distance, yet
When it is drawn up over the knees and breast
It brings no comfort.
I remember feeling an instinctive conversion into sound - in particular the opening
chord - which generated much of the character of the piece. Most of the piece is slow
and contemplative in nature with a more animated middle section.
Arioso was originally written for the viola but as both the viola and clarinet have a similar
compass and are instruments that one might associate with quiet expressiveness I felt it would
be suitable for transcription. Of course this entails some rethinking of the material but there
was really very little chordal writing in the original part, the emphasis being on melodic phrases
and expressive tone colour.
It is dedicated to Sarah Jane Bradley, a great friend and a wonderful musician, who gave
the premiere of the viola version in 1991.
Click a score sample below to view a larger version of the score...
Beginning
Performance: Arioso for clarinet and piano
Sunday 8th September 2019, 3pm
Catriona Scott, clarinet |
Charlotte Brennand, Piano |
The Church of St. Michael, Bray, SL6 2AB |
More info
Works: Arioso for Clarinet and Piano
Performance: Arioso for clarinet and piano
Friday 6th October 2017, 1.15pm
Catriona Scott, clarinet | Charlotte Brennand, piano | Auditorium, Victoria Rooms, Bristol University | Free event |
More info
Works: Arioso for Clarinet and Piano
Performance: Arioso for clarinet and piano
Saturday 13th May 2017, 7.30pm
Catriona Scott, clarinet | Charlotte Brennand, piano | Saint Andrew’s Parish Church, Headington, Oxfordshire | Tickets £10 at the door
Works: Arioso for Clarinet and Piano
Performance: Arioso for clarinet and piano
Saturday 27th August 2016, 2pm
Event 11 at Presteigne Festival 2016.
Rozenn Le Trionnaire, clarinet | Huw Watkins, piano | St Andrew’s Church, Presteigne, LD8 2AF |
More details and booking
Works: Arioso for Clarinet and Piano
World Premiere: Arioso for Clarinet and Piano
Wednesday 16th May 2001
Katherine Spencer, clarinet | Jonathan Ayerst, piano | Purcell Room, London
Works: Arioso for Clarinet and Piano
