Klarinette in B (Trio for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano)

Scored for Clarinet in Bb, Violoncello, and Piano, this work is in three continuous movements.

Movement I (Moderato, quarter = 78) opens with a rising figure in the cello accompanied by the clarinet. The piano soon enters to help define the overall harmonic character of the movement. There is dialogue between the instruments, yet each contributes to a consistent and common texture. A second, contrasting theme - marked Tranquillo - enters at measure 34. It highlights the interval of a perfect 5th and the music is generally consonant. The movement winds down at measure 83 ("lontano") with a soft coda before launching to the next movement from an attacca.

Movement II (Arioso, quarter = 72) begins with the clarinet playing lyrically over a mildly chaotic cello accompaniment with pizzicato marked "agiato." After time, the cello joins in to play tunes with the bow as a duet with the clarinet while the piano enters to accompany with pizzicato-like, pointillistic attacks. This eventually gives way to a long and sustained cantabile melody (measure 141) played together by the clarinet and cello with rhythmic and harmonic support from the piano.

From an attacca, Movement III (Tempo guisto, quarter = 120) launches into a section that is highly energetic and animated. A contrasting area (Meno mosso, quarter = 76) at measure 177 features a "sospeso" and melodic duet played by the clarinet and cello accompanied with impressionistic-sounding block chords sounded on the piano. At measure 213 a recapitulation reminiscent of the fast music from the opening returns. The movement (and Trio as a whole) resolves and comes to rest with an introspective conclusion at measure 269 (quarter = 96) and is articulated by a brief and soft coda in 2/4 time.

The Trio runs about 13 and a half minutes in duration. It was completed in Amsterdam on April 8th, 2016.