Duration: c. 6'
DETAILS
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
During the 1980's,
Center City Philadelphia had a restaurant named Frög, with a piano bar
known for their special pedigree of classically-trained pianists. My former
classmates Uri Caine and James Primosch were as likely to play Scriabin or
Stravinsky there as the classics by Kern, Rodgers, and "real book"
standards. Note the umlaut over the ö to get the froggy look in the logo.
With Jim and Uri as their entertainment, Frög became a frequent hangout for graduates of the Univ. of Pa. music
department.
In 1994, one of my Frög-going
friends got married, and she asked that for wedding presents from me and from
James Primosch, that we both compose clarinet/piano duos to premiere together at
her wedding ceremony.
It seemed only natural
to make this commission a "Souvenirs du Frög," always straddling the
line between concert music and seeming ready to burst out into a Gershwin tune.
Although it was premiered as a party novelty, PASTORALE (SOUVENIRS DU FRöG) has
appeared in many concert halls as well as NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the famous Kilbryde Castle in
Scotland.
CORRECTION TO THE FIRST PRINTING
- m93, Piano RH, all F's should be natural, not flat.
