Jonathan Leshnoff

Clarinet Concerto

A commission by the Philadelphia Orchestra led to Leshnoff's Clarinet Concerto. Leshnoff likens the clarinet to Hebrew text, in that both are controlled through breath. The essential part of text is the vowels, whose dynamics are indicated by dots and lines ('nikkudim') to bring them to life. Philadelphia's clarinetist Ricardo Morales, who also performed the new band transcription with The President's Own United States Marine Band, has said, 'What I hope that the audience will hear is the essence of what it is to have fun playing the clarinet. '