Music by
DANIEL DORFF
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CLARINET
April 2024 Composer-of-the-Month interview in The Clarinet magazine


Andante con Variazioni for Flute and Clarinet
Duration: c. 5'

PREMIERED by Sharon Ostow flute, and Daniel Dorff clarinet, Bennington College, 1975.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
RECORDED on Albany Records by Leonard Garrison and Shannon Scott.
More about this all-Dorff Flute-Clarinet CD by the Scott-Garrison Duo.

YOUTUBE of the Garrison-Scott CD recording

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS
BFF's for Eb Clarinet and Bb Clarinet
Duration: c. 9'

I. Burleska
II. Friends
III. Friday

COMMISSIONED by University of Alabama-Birmingham for the Amicitia Duo (Denise Gainey and Diane Barger).
PREMIERED by the Amicitia Duo at the International Clarinet Society's ClarinetFest, June 30, 2022.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

YOUTUBE by Christine MacDonnell and Christine MacDonnell.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS
Cape May Breezes for Wind Quintet
Duration: c. 18'

1. Breezing Into Town (Exit 0)
2. Autumn Monarch Migration
3. Victorian Garden Party
4. Dusk at Sunset Beach
5. Night Breezes on the Boardwalk

COMMISSIONED by The Monmouth Winds.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

 WINNER, 2016 Newly Published Music award, National Flute Association.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS
Concerto No. 2 for Clarinet and Orchestra
Duration: c. 20'

COMMISSIONED by the South Dakota Symphony.
PREMIERED by Christopher Hill solo clarinet with the South Dakota Symphony,
conducted by Delta David Gier, April 13, 2024.
AVAILABLE (Solo clarinet part with piano reduction) direct from Presser.
ORCHESTRAL SCORE perusal available online.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS
Cosmic Menagerie for Two Bass Clarinets
Duration: c. 21'

PART I
The Year of the Rooster
The Year of the Wild Boar
The Year of the Dragon
PART II - Scherzo
The Year of the Monkey (self-portrait)
The Year of the Cute Little Mice
The Year of the Dog
Bunnies!
PART III
The Year of the Snake
The Year of the Sheep (lullaby & variations)
PART IV
The Year of the Ox
The Year of the Tiger
The Year of the Horse

COMMISSIONED by the Morii Duo.
PREMIERED by the Morii Duo (Richard Ferrarelli and Lindsey Hutchinson) at the ICA Low Clarinet Festival, Glendale AZ, January 9, 2025.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

YOUTUBE by Morii Duo of selected movements.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

Dance Music for Mr. Mouse A Cartoon Ballet for Eb Clarinet and Piano (and optional Animation)
Duration: c. 9½'

COMMISSIONED by Sherry Hartman-Apgar.
PREMIERED by the Temple University Chamber Players: Sherry-Apgar Eb clarinet, Lisa Pressman piano, April 21, 1982.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
RECORDED on Albany Records by Elizabeth Crawford and Lori Rhoden.
RECORDED on KTM label (Japan) by Tomomi Hiratsuka and Saeko Miyasho.

YOUTUBE of Elizabeth Crawford's CD.
YOUTUBE performance by Mark Margolies and Corry Bell.

Texas UIL Prescribed Music List for all-state audition repertoire.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

Dances and Canons for Flute and Clarinet
Duration: c. 7'

PREMIERED by Sharon Ostow flute, and Daniel Dorff clarinet, Bennington College, 1975.
PERFORMANCES include a spontaneous walk-on by Jean-Pierre Rampal, joining the composer on clarinet, Cabbagetown Cafe, Ithaca NY, Spring 1978.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
RECORDED on Albany Records by Leonard Garrison and Shannon Scott.
More about this all-Dorff Flute-Clarinet CD by the Scott-Garrison Duo.

YOUTUBES of the Garrison-Scott CD of this suite of 9 short duets appear as 9 separate tracks. Here's Mvt. 1, which will lead to the following movements.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS
Dark Romance for 3 Bb Clarinets & Bass Clarinet (Quartet or Ensemble)   
Duration: c. 4'

COMPOSED for Clarinessence.
PREMIERED by Clarinessence, Philadelphia, 1986.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

YOUTUBE of students at Shenandoah Conservatory

Fast Walk for 3 Bb Clarinets & Bass Clarinet (Quartet or Ensemble)
Duration: c. 2½'

COMPOSED for Clarinessence.
PREMIERED by Clarinessence, Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, Pa., December 21, 1989.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
Also available for Saxophone Quartet, Bassoon Quartet, Orchestra.
YOUTUBE of Steven Christ (on all parts)

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS
Flash! for Bb Clarinet and Band   
Duration: c. 6'
Transcription from the work for Piccolo and Band

PREMIERED by Sabrina Moulaï clarinet with the USAF Band of the Golden West, opening night gala concert, International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest, June 29, 2022.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
AVAILABLE in piano reduction from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.


PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS (of the piccolo version)
Flowers of St. Francis Five Scenes for solo Bass Clarinet
Duration: c. 14'

I. The Flowers, Celebrated by St. Francis
II. St. Francis Preaching to the Birds
III. St. Francis Pacifying the Wolf
IV. St. Francis Preaching to the Fish
V. The Starry Skies, Celebrated by St. Francis

COMMISSIONED by Barbara Haney.
Barbara Haney's premiere at the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest, Assisi, Italy, July 2013.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

YOUTUBE of Barbara Haney's preview concert in Perugia, Italy, July 2013.
YOUTUBE of Tim Haas's faculty recital at Grand Canyon University (with captions and artwork).
Texas UIL Prescribed Music List for all-state audition repertoire.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

Hot Spots for English Horn and Bb Clarinet
Duration: c. 8'

1. Sunsplash
2. On the Beach
3. The Bee and the Horseshoe Crab

COMMISSIONED by West Chester University for Duo Del Sol (Henry Grabb & Karen Dannessa).
PREMIERED by Henry Grabb & Karen Dannessa, Steinway Hall NYC (October 2018).
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

YOUTUBE of live performance by Rachel Messing and Tim Haas.
YOUTUBE of live performance by Merideth Hite Estevez and Christopher Nichols.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

In A Deep Funk Dance Set for solo Bass Clarinet (or Contralto or Contrabass)
Duration: c. 14'
Adapted from the work originally for contrabassoon:

1. Hustle Misterioso
2. Twist Variations
3. Bear Hug
4. Funk Scherzo

PREMIERED by Barbara Haney at ICA ClarinetFest. August 2014.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser. Texas UIL Prescribed Music List for all-state audition repertoire.

YOUTUBE by Barbara Haney

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

Invention on Mozart's 11-tone Surprise for Flute and Bb Clarinet
Duration: c. 6'

WORLD PREMIERE by Katrina King and Tim Haas, July 2023 at the ICA ClarinetFest.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

YOUTUBE recording by Katrina King and Tim Haas.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

It Takes Four to Tango for 3 Bb Clarinets & Bass Clarinet (Quartet or Ensemble)
Duration: c. 2½'

COMPOSED for Clarinessence.
PREMIERED by Clarinessence, Philadelphia, November 11, 1990.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

RECORDED on Farao Classics by Interclarinet (clarinetists from Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic.)
Also available for Flute Quartet, Saxophone Quartet, and other scorings (see program notes).
YOUTUBE of Steven Christ (on all parts)

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

It Takes Four to Tango for Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, and Bassoon
Duration: c. 2½'

PREMIERED by members of the Johnston (PA) Symphony, May 2021.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS
Old New Borrowed Blue  for Flute and Bb Clarinet
A collection of 3 flute/clarinet duets that are also available individually:
 1. Dances and Canons
2. Three Little Waltzes  
3. Andante con Variazioni

AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.
RECORDING of all 3 works on Albany Records by Leonard Garrison flute, Shannon Scott clarinet.

YOUTUBES of each work are linked on this under each individual work's title.
Complete collection is on the NYSSMA list of recommended contest pieces.
Pastorale (Souvenirs du Frög) for Bb Clarinet and Piano
Duration: c. 6'

PREMIERED by Daniel Dorff clarinet, and James Primosch piano, Bristol, PA, August 1994.
PERFORMANCES include David Peck of the Houston Symphony.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.
RECORDED on Albany Records by Shannon Scott clarinet and Rajung Yang piano.
RECORDED on Northbranch Records by David Hattner clarinet and and Albert Tiu piano.

YOUTUBE of Shannon Scott's CD.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS
Perennials for Flute, Clarinet in A, and Piano
Duration: c. 20'

1. Joyous Overture
2. Romance
3. Scherzo
4. Winter
5. Spring Awakening

COMMISSIONED by Walfrid and Sherry Kujala in honor of the retirement of Helen Ann and Richard Shanley from Baylor University
PREMIERE by Sherry Kujala flute, Larry Combs clarinet, Nolan Pearson; Evanston IL piano, 10/12/11.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser
RECORDING on Albany Records by Leonard Garrison flute, Shannon Scott clarinet, Rajung Yang piano.
RECORDING by Agnieszka Bartoszewicz flute, Przemystan Bucsek clarinet, and Katarzyna Nowaczewska-Manthey piano on the Sagittaria label, available on all streaming platforms. YOUTUBES of each movement from the Albany CD, beginning with Mvt. 1 here, then sequencing through the following movements.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

Seven Daydreams on Can't Find My Way Home for solo Bass Clarinet
Duration: c. 14'
Variations on the Steve Winwood song made popular by Blind Faith.

AVAILABLE exclusively from arrangeme.com

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS
Slippery Slopes for Mixed Clarinet Sextet (or Ensemble)
Duration: c. 6'
4 Bb Clarinets, 2 Bass Clarinets, opt. Bb Contrabass Clarinet

COMMISSIONED by the Slippery Rock University Clarinet Studio, under the direction of Dr. Amanda Morrison.
PREMIERED April 30, 2023 at Slippery Rock University.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

SOUNDCLOUD of Penn State Clarinet Choir live in concert.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

Sonatina d'Amore for Two Bass (or Contrabass) Clarinets

Duration: c. 6½'

COMMISSIONED by Susan Nigro for "The Two Contras" - Susan Nigro and Burl Lane (contrabassoonists of the Chicago Symphony).
BASS CLARINET VERSION for the Morii Duo, 2023.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

Summer Solstice Concerto No. 1 for Clarinet and String Orchestra
Duration: c. 19'

PREMIERED by Orchestra 2001, Arne Running clarinet, James Freeman conductor, March 30, 1994, Philadelphia.
PERFORMANCES have also included John Bruce Yeh with Alan Gilbert conducting the Haddonfield Symphony (now Symphony in C).
AVAILABLE (clarinet with piano reduction) from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.
ORCHESTRAL SCORE perusal available online.

AUDIO EXCERPTS: John Yeh's performance with the Haddonfield Symphony conducted by Alan Gilbert:
from Mvt. 1
from Mvt. 2
from Mvt. 3

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS


John Yeh and Alan Gilbert applauding the composer
after their performance.
Summer Strut for Bb Clarinet and Piano
Duration: c. 2'

Available from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Kendor Music.
Three Little Waltzes for Flute and Bb Clarinet
Duration: c. 5'

COMMISSIONED by Cindy Anne Broz
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.

RECORDED on Albany Records by Leonard Garrison flute and Shannon Scott clarinet.

YOUTUBE of Little Waltz No. 1 from the Scott-Garrison CD; all three waltzes are on YouTube as separate tracks.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

Three Romances for Flute and Bb Clarinet
Duration: c. 8'

I. Languid
II. Sultry
III. Frisky

AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.
RECORDED on Albany Records by Leonard Garrison flute and Shannon Scott clarinet.

YOUTUBE of a live performance of Mvt. 2, by Lois Herbine and Arne Running at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center.
Many more YouTubes are available, including the Scott-Garrison CD.
NYSSMA list of recommended contest pieces.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

Two Cats for Flute and Bb Clarinet
Duration: c. 8'

1. Hootie
2. Tiki

COMPOSED FOR the Dutchess County (NY) SPCA's annual fundraising gala.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.
RECORDED on Blue Griffin Recording by the Crescent Duo (Joanna Cowan White and Kennen White).
RECORDED (private label) by Martha Grener.
RECORDED on Albany Records by Leonard Garrison and Shannon Scott.

YOUTUBE of the Scott-Garrison CD.

FINALIST, 2010 NFA Newly Published Music awards.

 PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS
Woodland Reverie for solo Bass Clarinet
Duration: c. 3½'

AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.

YOUTUBE by Chastine Hofmeister

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

Zoe & Xena A Romp in the Park for Piccolo and Bass Clarinet

Duration: c. 7'

COMMISSIONED by Leonard Garrison, for Shannon Scott in honor of their dogs Xena and Zoe.
PREMIERED by Leonard Garrison and Shannon Scott at the 2015 NFA Convention.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.
RECORDED on Albany Records by Leonard Garrison and Shannon Scott.

PROGRAM NOTES & REVIEWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

updated April 28, 2026
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