Mitya: Concerto for Clarinet
2010 · solo B-flat clarinet with chamber orchestra of 18 players
Duration: 18'
Mitya: Concerto for Clarinet was composed at McGill University under supervision of Brian Cherney and Sean Ferguson, dedicated to clarinetist Mark Bradley. The title references Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. Structure derived from passages describing conception, pregnancy, birth, and infancy from the father’s perspective, moving from confusion and fear to understanding and acceptance. Three movements: first focuses on A5 as point of reference; second is a passacaglia modulating up a just major third with each cycle; final movement features D as pitch center using quasi-functional harmony.