Willow for solo clarinet

Willow for solo clarinet is meant to evoke the mystical wildness of the woods near my home in Massachusetts. The piece is brimming with ethereal multiphonic melodies, bubbling color trills, and other extended techniques which push the abilities of the clarinet- not just for show, but because I think these techniques can express deep and elusive naturalistic sounds and can serve as the heart of the music.

The title is also a dedication to a goat named Willow who I took care of while working at a local farm, and who passed away around the time I was writing the piece. The goats on the farm seem to love music and the main motif of Willow is a melody I would often play for them on a little Hungarian folk flute. 

The theme is transfigured over the course of the music to reflect the woods' flickering tempers and colors, their frayed history and root-knotted ruins, and the infinite wonder they  inspire.

2025 performance for ChatterPDX with me playing clarinet