Music by DANIEL DORFF |
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| It Takes Four to Tango | |
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DETAILS COMPOSED in September 1990 for the quartet Clarinessence, in which I played bass clarinet. The title is simply a twist on the old saying. I've often been asked to make transcriptions, and here is what's available (in chronological order) . I love how widely performers' interpretations vary in tempo and style. That's "what the composer wanted." (1) 3 Bb Clarinets and Bass Clarinet : The original version, commercially recorded by the Interclarinet ensemble -- players from the top orchestras in Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Sometimes performed by all low clarinets or other variants using the quartet parts. HEAR the Interclarinet's recording (Track 9). BUY from your favorite sheet music dealer, or directly from Presser. (2) SATB Saxophone Quartet: Commercially recorded by the Tokyo-based Harmo Saxophone Quartet, by the Miles Osland Quartet who added jazz flavoring, and by the Morse Code Saxophone Quartet. Also performed by Prism and many other quartets. HEAR the Japan Saxophone Quartet Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band live at the MidWest Clinic, Chicago. BUY from your favorite sheet music dealer, or directly from Presser. (3) String Quartet: originally for the Symphony In C's in-school outreach, now in lots of quartets' gig books. BUY from your favorite sheet music dealer, or directly from Presser. (4) String Quintet (quartet plus bass): BUY from your favorite sheet music dealer, or directly from Presser. (5) String Orchestra: Available for high school, community, and professional string orchestras. BUY from your favorite sheet music dealer, or directly from Presser. (6) 3 Bassoons & Contrabassoon: Transcribed for and premiered by Christopher Weait and the Ohio State University Bassoon Ensemble. Often performed on campuses and at conventions. This has been performed by the Contraband at IDRS convention with multiple contrabassoonists on each of the quartet parts. BUY from your favorite sheet music dealer, or directly from Presser. (7) Violin (or Flute) & Guitar: premiered by Mimi Stillman and Allen Krantz in Philadelphia. BUY from your favorite sheet music dealer, or directly from Presser. (8) Flute & Strings: premiered by flutist Mimi Stillman with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Played from any of the all-string versions, with flute on the Violin 1 part. (9) 2 C Flutes, Alto Flute (or 3rd C Flute), and Bass Flute: Transcribed for Flûtes de Salon who premiered it in San Diego in July 2011. HEAR a recording by Flûtes de Salon. BUY from your favorite sheet music dealer, or directly from Presser. (10) Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon: Transcribed for the WindSong Consort, Temecula, CA. BUY from your favorite sheet music dealer, or directly from Presser. (11) Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, and Bassoon: Transcribed for members of the Johnston (PA) Symphony. BUY from your favorite sheet music dealer, available in late 2026. REVIEWS "a short, sweet exploration of Latin rhythms and jazz harmonies for classical players... The top line is a great study in long, sustained lines and ease in the high register; the other three parts are a great test of internal pulse and rhythmic accuracy. This piece could easily be added to a program as a little treat for the audience with minimal rehearsal time required. The parts and score are nicely printed and easy to read. – The Flutist Quarterly (Nicole Riner), Spring 2012 "It is a wonderful little soprano saxophone feature. You could program this anywhere on a concert, either on its own or right after Fast Walk, for example. It can be played "straight" as written, or more inflected in a jazz style." – Saxophone Journal (Susan Fancher), September/October 2007 "... a short, rhythmically angular piece, very chromatic, that requires considerable dexterity, both digital and rhythmic." – Music Teacher (UK), August 1998 "This is just a funky two-minute tango with strong rhythm (of course) and chromatic, angular melody. Every member of the group needs to be rhythmically secure but it won't work unless the first violinist can carry the whole thing with a burst of personality." – Music Teacher (UK), (Robert Max), July 1999 |
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last updated May 25, 2026 home | |
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