Music by DANIEL DORFF |
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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' IN A DEEP FUNK for Bass Clarinet is the result of several intersecting ideas that have come full-circle. As a bass clarinetist myself, the Bach cello suites are standard repertoire for my practice and warm-ups -- partially because they're excellent training for intonation and interpretation, and partially because they're monumental masterpieces that can be played on bass clarinet straight from the cello music. When I was commissioned in 1995 to create an unaccompanied competition piece for a contrabassoon festival, I responded with this dance suite somewhat in the Bach model, but using dance patterns from my own era rather than baroque dances. Many years later, Barbara Haney commissioned FLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS as a solo bass clarinet piece to premiere at the 2013 ICA ClarinetFest. When Barbara followed by asking if I happened to have anything else she could premiere at the 2014 ClarinetFest, it seemed time to make a bass clarinet adaptation of IN A DEEP FUNK. The 2014 bass clarinet version is almost identical to the 1996 contrabassoon version, but the inherent difference in the instruments (and 18 years' time) led to a number of minor alterations. The following details are taken from the 1996 program notes: 1. HUSTLE MISTERIOSO uses a hustle rhythm, and the notes are reminsicent of the "Powerhouse" motif used in many of Carl Stalling's cartoon scores. It also is a traditionally-built rounded binary form. 2. TWIST VARIATIONS uses a theme in driving quarter-notes and 12-bar blues, and then goes quite far afield into many rhythmic and textural worlds, using the 12-bar blues as a chaconne. 3. BEAR HUG is a 12/8 slow dance, certainly inspired by the feel of Smokey Robinson's and other ballads of that genre. 4. FUNK SCHERZO is more free-form, and true to its title. Roger Soren gave the world premiere at IDRS 1997. Individual movements have been used frequently for audition requirements, and few have dared to play the complete suite in entirety. I've had the rare pleasure of hearing the 1st movement played en masse in unison at a contrabassoon convention. IN A DEEP FUNK is now available for contrabassoon, bass (or lower) clarinet, and baritone (or lower) saxophone, and there is a sequel, Deep Funk, Pt. 2, for solo viola. REVIEWS (Movement 2): "Based on the popular dance from the 1960s, this 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." –Jon Beebe, The Double Reed, Vol. 26, No. 4 (2003) "To say that Daniel Dorff is a prolific composer is a huge understatement. Thanks to him, our repertoire is vastly enhanced by many compositions for clarinet solo and chamber music, all for which he chose colorful and fun titles… Dorff writes that he was somewhat inspired by the Bach dance suite model, but uses dance patterns from the present era rather than the Baroque. Bass clarinetist Barbara Haney premiered it at the 2014 ICA ClarinetFest, and one of her terrific performances is posted on YouTube. "Hustle Misterioso" uses a hustle rhythm and was inspired by cartoon music, "Twist Variations" (my favorite movement) uses a walking bass theme in a 12-bar blues, "Bear Hug" is a 12/8 slow dance, and "Funk Scherzo" is very rhythmic, inspired by R&B soul-funk bass riffs. In A Deep Funk is a very well done and audience-friendly addition to our bass clarinet repertoire." – The Clarinet (Michèle Gingras), December 2015 "One strong point of ClarinetFest 2014 has been the array of excellent performances on bass clarinet, often showcasing new music for the instrument. This Lagniappe Recital was a shining example of that. In a Deep Funk featured four movements with a play on popular dance crazes from the middle of the last century... The music was sometimes raucous and sometimes singing, but always had an underlying groove. Barbara Haney played very convincingly, executing the large leaps and use of the full range of the bass clarinet with great ease." – Clarinetfest.wordpress.com (Melissa L. Morales), August 5, 2014 |
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last updated May 7, 2026 |
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