Music by DANIEL DORFF |
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CLARINET
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| Andante con Variazioni for Flute and Clarinet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Duration: c. 5'
PREMIERED by Sharon Ostow flute, and Daniel Dorff clarinet, Bennington College, 1975. 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.
"interesting, imaginative... and certainly worthy of performance" |  |
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| BFF's for Eb Clarinet and Bb Clarinet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duration: c. 9'
I. Burleska
COMMISSIONED by University of Alabama-Birmingham for the Amicitia Duo (Denise Gainey and Diane Barger). |  |
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| Cape May Breezes for Wind Quintet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duration: c. 18'
1. Breezing Into Town (Exit 0)
COMMISSIONED by The Monmouth Winds.
PROGRAM NOTES
WINNER, 2016 Newly Published Music award, National Flute Association. |
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| Concerto No. 2 for Clarinet and Orchestra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duration: c. 20'
COMMISSIONED by the South Dakota Symphony. | 
Cosmic Menagerie
for Two Bass Clarinets
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Duration: c. 21'
PART I
COMMISSIONED by the Morii Duo.
YOUTUBE
by Morii Duo of selected movements.
PROGRAM NOTES
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Dance Music for Mr. Mouse
A Cartoon Ballet for Eb Clarinet and Piano (and optional Animation)
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Duration: c. 9½'
COMMISSIONED by Sherry Hartman-Apgar.
YOUTUBE
of Elizabeth Crawford's CD. 
Dances and Canons
for Flute and Clarinet
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Duration: c. 7' |
PREMIERED by Sharon Ostow flute, and Daniel Dorff clarinet, Bennington College, 1975. 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.
"interesting, imaginative... and certainly worthy of performance" 
Dark Romance
for 3 Bb Clarinets & Bass Clarinet (Quartet or Ensemble) |
Duration: c. 4'
COMPOSED for Clarinessence.
YOUTUBE of students at Shenandoah Conservatory Fast Walk
for 3 Bb
Clarinets & Bass Clarinet (Quartet or Ensemble) |
Duration: c. 2½' |
COMPOSED for Clarinessence.
"This short, upbeat piece makes a terrific opener for a concert, or as the first piece
after intermission.
Flash!
for Bb Clarinet and Band |
Duration: c. 6'
PREMIERED by Sabrina Moulaï clarinet with the USAF Band of the Golden West, opening night gala concert, International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest, June 29, 2022.
Flowers of St. Francis
Five Scenes for solo Bass Clarinet
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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.
YOUTUBE of Barbara Haney's preview concert in Perugia, Italy, July 2013.
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Hot Spots
for English Horn and Bb Clarinet |
Duration: c. 8' |
1. Sunsplash
COMMISSIONED by West Chester University for Duo Del Sol (Henry Grabb & Karen Dannessa).
YOUTUBE of live performance by Rachel Messing and Tim Haas.
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In A Deep Funk
Dance Set for solo Bass Clarinet (or Contralto or Contrabass)
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Duration: c. 14'
1. Hustle Misterioso
PREMIERED by Barbara Haney at ICA ClarinetFest. August 2014.
YOUTUBE by Barbara Haney
"Based on the popular dance from the 1960s, [Mvt. 2] is a fun piece for the audience as
well as the accomplished contra player. A standard rock and roll chord
progression is treated in a variety of ways melodically and rhythmically, with
a few nods in the direction of Dave Brubeck and other jazz musicians as well.
Although its duration is less than six minutes, the piece is quite grueling.
The entire four-movement set is quite a blow at around twelve minutes! ... the
piece really is a hoot for both the player up to the challenge, and for the
audience."
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Invention on Mozart's 11-tone Surprise
for Flute and Bb Clarinet
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Duration: c. 6' |
WORLD PREMIERE by Katrina King and Tim Haas, July 2023 at the ICA ClarinetFest.
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It Takes Four to Tango
for 3 Bb Clarinets & Bass Clarinet (Quartet or Ensemble)
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Duration: c. 2½'
COMPOSED for Clarinessence.
RECORDED on Farao Classics by Interclarinet (clarinetists from Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic.) 
It Takes Four to Tango
for Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, and Bassoon
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Duration: c. 2½'
PREMIERED by members of the Johnston (PA) Symphony, May 2021. 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.
YOUTUBES of each work are linked on this under each individual work's title. 
Pastorale (Souvenirs du Frög)
for Bb Clarinet and Piano
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Duration: c. 6'
PREMIERED by Daniel Dorff clarinet, and James Primosch piano, Bristol, PA, August
1994.
YOUTUBE of Shannon Scott's CD. 
Perennials
for Flute, Clarinet in A, and Piano
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Duration: c. 20' |
1. Joyous Overture
COMMISSIONED by Walfrid and Sherry Kujala in honor of the retirement of Helen Ann and Richard Shanley from Baylor University
review of the Perennials CD from Fanfare Magazine (David DeBoor Canfield)
Slippery Slopes
for Mixed Clarinet Sextet (or Ensemble)
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Duration: c. 6'
COMMISSIONED by the Slippery Rock University Clarinet Studio, under the direction of Dr. Amanda Morrison.
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).
Summer Solstice
Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra |
Duration: c. 19' |
PREMIERED by Orchestra 2001, Arne Running clarinet, James Freeman conductor, March 30,
1994, Philadelphia.
AUDIO EXCERPTS: John Yeh's performance with the Haddonfield Symphony conducted by Alan Gilbert: – Philadelphia Inquirer (Peter Dobrin), April 2, 1994 "Summer Solstice opened with Arne Running's jazzy, dancing clarinet playing in front of the kind of American country fair music that makes you feel like someone should step out of the crowd and start dancing. The slow movement was easy and full. The finale was sweet and driving." – Philadelphia Welcomat (Tom Purdom), April 20, 1994 "Notable events of 1994 included the impressive premiere of Daniel Dorff's Summer Solstice." – Philadelphia Welcomat (Tom Purdom), December 28, 1994 "... gave a distinctive contemporary accent to the Haddonfield Symphony's third program of the season... For those who braved the first storm of winter - and most did - there was much to enjoy... Dorff's 18-minute piece cast a friendly glow with its jaunty rhythms and sunny musical themes.Summer Solstice falls on the ears like the graceful caress of a warm day. Superbly performed, the score radiated an old-fashioned charm. The three-movement score is a gift for a superb soloist." – Camden Courier-Post (Robert Baxter), February 10, 1997 "... a delightful three-movement work for which the description "rollicking" is most often the apt word... a celebration of summer filled with bright harmonies and happy spirit." – Classical New Jersey (Paul Somers), February 12, 1997 "Summer Solstice is lyrical and fresh as rainwater. [John] Yeh gave a bright turn to its tangled tunes and merry melodies and a subtly nuanced performance of the languid larghetto. His clarinet cut like a lean laser above the lush cohesive strings. –Pioneer Press (Dorothy Andries), March 1998 "I had the great pleasure of premiering this version, and have performed the full orchestral concerto as well. I love this piece, and recommend it highly to everyone. It is in the Amercan symphony language of midcentury neoclassicists and is extremely beautiful. The first movement opens with a tremolo landscape introduction with a long phrase in the high clarinet. The rest of the movement is taken up with a fun romp reminiscent of children playing in the summer sun, running through fields laughing and leaping, occasionally catching their breath. The coda increases the humor with large "heee-haw" leaps and hoedown rhythms in the piano, end with a spectacular arpeggio up to double-high C. "The second movement opens quietly and contemplatively, and continues the deep exploration of beautiful sounds. Lush, expressive passages contrast with this contemplation and occasional forays into a lullaby before ending with the opening material. The third movement opens with slow and low material that makes up the bulk of the "triple time! ma energico" to come. The second theme is a slightly wobbly slower dance. The third is a jazzy theme that leads back to the first material in a mad crescendo to the end. "This concerto manages to be tonal, expressive, and beautiful without seeming clichĂ©. At 18 minutes, it makes a great recital piece and is perfect for high school and college students as well as professionals. The parts are well laid out and easy to read. Highest recommendation. –The Clarinet (Sean Osborn), June 2018 
John Yeh and Alan Gilbert applauding the composer after their performance.
Summer Strut
for Bb Clarinet and Piano
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Duration: c. 2'
Available from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Kendor Music. Three Little Waltzes
for Flute and Bb Clarinet
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Duration: c. 5' COMMISSIONED by Cindy Anne Broz 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
"Little gems with a Peter Schickele-esque whimsical quality. These duos rise above the mundane with interesting harmonic twists."
Three Romances
for Flute and Bb Clarinet |
Duration: c. 8' |
I. Languid
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.
YOUTUBE of a live performance of
Mvt. 2, by Lois Herbine and Arne Running at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center.
NYSSMA list of recommended contest pieces.
Two Cats
for Flute and Bb Clarinet |
Duration: c. 8' |
1. Hootie
COMPOSED FOR the Dutchess County (NY) SPCA's annual fundraising gala.
YOUTUBE of the Scott-Garrison CD.
FINALIST, 2010 NFA Newly Published Music awards.  Woodland Reverie
for solo Bass Clarinet |
Duration: c. 3½' |
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.  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.
"Perennials was devoted to the amiable music of Daniel Dorff, a release hailed by Fanfare critic Peter Burwasser as "a rich soufflé of wonderfully conceived and executed chamber music." Similar could be said of this new release... Dorff's delightful Zoe and Xena: A Romp in the Park (2015) is a concept left over from the earlier CD, and realized instead for this release. The composer did not care to write yet another work for clarinet and flute, so produced for his two friends a sprightly mouse-and-elephant sort of dance for piccolo and bass clarinet. Of course, the image one is supposed to get is of the couple's young chocolate Labrador and golden retriever cavorting in a park; that works for me, too."
Leonard Garrison &
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updated August 25, 2025 home | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
