Rongbing Shen performed “Chansons de la Nature pour la Clarinette”, by Jenni Brandon, at the University of Massachusetts — Amherst on April 2, 2021 for Earth Day -The Birds, The Fish, The Butterfly. Her performance is available for viewing on YouTube.

NEW! “Chansons de la Nature pour la Clarinette“ is required repertoire for the 2020-2021 International Clarinetist Corona Competition – Classical Category!

Chansons de la Nature pour la Clarinette tells a story about nature as told by the clarinet’s agile voice. The French titles and basis of the pieces were inspired by the lyrical and pastoral quality of the French language and the images it invokes. The piece is also inspired by the images presented in Aesop’s fables (and Jean de la Fontain’s retelling of them); in particular, the movement “Le Lièvre et la Tortue” tells of the slow tortoise beating the fast hare with his patience and determination. Both creatures are represented in this movement, from the plodding of the tortoise to the quick movements of the hare.

The other movements also represent a variety of characters and situations from these famous fables. “Le Poisson” darts, “Le Papillon” flutters and floats, “L’étoile” shimmers in the night sky, nature ‘dances’, and “Le Serpent” is slippery and quick. Each movement is short, but just long enough to evoke a story and create a ‘song of nature’ for the clarinet.

1. Les Oiseaux
   II. Le Poisson
   III. Le Papillon
   IV. Le Lièvre et La Tortue
   V. L’Etoile
   VI. Dansez!
   VII. Le Serpent

This work appears on Jenni’s CD SONGS OF CALIFORNIA: MUSIC FOR WINDS AND PIANO

Chansons de la Nature pour la Clarinette sheet music is available on Jenni’s website at the following link; Chansons de la nature pour la clarinette – solo B-flat clarinet sheet music (jennibrandon.com)