Description
Chansons de la Nature pour la Clarinette
for solo B-flat Clarinet with Delay Pedal
Chansons de la Nature pour la Clarinette (version for solo B-Flat Clarinet and Delay) takes Jenni’s original work for Solo B-Flat clarinet and adds digital delay to the movements to create a unique and colorful version of this work.
Performance note
Performer should use an active PA speaker and a digital delay effects pedal capable of a .55-second delay. The performer may also use a similar digital/analog delay pedal or live audio processing software (ex. Ableton Live) to achieve this effect.
As an input device, a piezoelectric pickup or an external microphone may be used to capture the clarinet’s sound for use of the effect.
About the work
Chansons 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.
A recording of the non-delay version is available on the CD Songs of California: Music for Winds and Piano. In addition, Chansons was required repertoire for the 2020-2021 International Clarinetist Corona Competition – Classical Category.
Movements
I. 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
Performance of the original version by Carrie RavenStem of Chansons de la Nature pour la Clarinette during the 2020 Woodwind Fest
