Category: chamber music

2016 . . . 12 contrapuntal etudes . . . 15 minutes

This set of 12 etudes for two contrapuntal voices was first composed as modern 20th-century style studies for the aural skills workbook ARRAYS. They echo the musical characters of early 20th-century composers Debussy, Bartók, Stravinsky, Hindemith, Varese, Webern, and others of mid-century such as Dallapiccola. Though the “invention” designation recalls Bach’s great Two-Part Inventions, a more direct inspiration was Bartók’s Mikrokosmos, six books of piano etudes.

Though originally scored in limited treble and bass ranges suitable for singing, the intervallic and rhythmic complexities are more suitable for instrumental studies. Versions of the twelve are available for string orchestra, or for pairs of instruments:

• viola & cello
• clarinet & bass clarinet
• trombone & bass trombone

The 12 Contrapuncti are graduated in challenge for study, but can also be performed, as one short suite of four, or two or three suites altogether in any order.

Suite I

• 1. Strolling – tempo = 48
• 2. Boldly – tempo = 72
• 3. Celestial – tempo = 54
• 4. Proudly – tempo = 78

Suite II

• 5. Dancing – tempo = 54
• 6. Skating – tempo = 126
• 7. Exploring – tempo = 132
• 8. Contemplative – tempo = 128

Suite III

• 9. Emphatically – tempo = 84
• 10. Precise – tempo = 66
• 11. Mysterious – tempo = 72
• 12. Aggressive – tempo = 84

Here are all 12 played by strings:

[order – Suite II, Suite III, Suite I]

To request study/performance materials, email composer

Thomas Clark, tc24@txstate.edu