SONATINA Op.29

This is one of four sonatinas for wind instruments by Malcolm Arnold which he wrote between 1946 and 1952 for specific players.The clarinet sonatina was written for the accomplished player and teacher Frederick Thurston early in 1951 and published in the same year, but the first performance at the Royal Society of British Artists in London, on 20th March was given by a young clarinettist called Colin Davis who was to become a world renowned conductor.

The first of three strongly contrasted movements (Allegro con brio) starts 'brillante' with wide leaps and dashing semi-quavers accompanied by percussive off beat chords. This gives way to a cheerful theme which is reminiscent of the music hall or even the circus and is in turn followed by sustained and reflective writing for the clarinet with an off beat accompaniment. The opening material returns for a few bars before the movement ends thoughtfully and pianissimo. The elegiac mood of the clarinet part in the second movement (Andantino) is contradicted by the angular harmonies of the piano accompaniment and the finale (Furioso) is a hectic dance in triple time with a middle eastern feel to it.

• I Allegro con brio
• II Andantino
• III Furioso

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