Work : Polyglot


Composer : Mike Curtis http://www.mikecurtismusic.com/Bio.html


Difficulty Ranking : V


Publisher : GĂ©rard Billaudot


Year Published : 2012


Commission : Quarteto Vintage


Premiere : ClarinetFest 2009


Instrumentation : 3 Bb Clarinets and 1 Bass Clarinet


Potential Pedagogical Applications : Articulation matching, intonation (octave, unison, and chordal), ensemble mechanics, phrase matching and handoffs, solo passages, hocketing, extended techniques (pitch bends, glissandos)


Sample Recording :


Where to Purchase Sheet Music : http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/polyglot-sheet-music/19898018


Annotation : Polyglot was composed by Curtis to be a musical depiction of the four different personalities of the members of the commissioning ensemble Quarteto Vintage: clarinet 1 Misterioso, bass clarinet Vivo, clarinet 2 Urgente, and clarinet 3 Languido. Curtis introduces each personality individually before having them interact with one another in the music. This work features an extensive range to A 4 and complex hocketing rhythmic patterns. Additionally, the work requires players have great ensemble mechanics, as there are many transitions that must be communicated with great precision.