Septet

Date of Composition: 1978

Duration: 18'

Category: Large Ensemble (6 or more players)

Instrumentation: Clarinet, Percussion, Piano, String Quartet

This piece came about a few years after the conclusion of my graduate studies in Buffalo and was written for wonderful musicians a little older than myself who had become friends during these years. The Camanae Quartet, Marie Yadzinski,Susan Harbison, violins, Diane Williams, viola, and Mary Sue Wells, cello had asked me to write a string quartet for them. After some thought I asked if it could include a piano (me), a clarinet (Ed Yadzinski, then married to Marie) and a percussion, my fellow UB grad student, Bruce Penner. The quartet consented and then it was realized we needed a conductor.
This became Jan Williams (husband of Diane). So the piece became quite a family affair. The recording, now 37 years old, is of the first three minutes of the first performance at the old Burchfield-Penney Gallery at Buffalo State University. Morton Feldman adds a cough at about 3'. Morty seemed to like the piece as he graciously gave me my first portrait concert ,which included this piece at June in Buffalo,1982. I often think about the generosity of these people in their support of a young composer.

The Camanae Quartet / Edward Yadzinski, clarinet / Bruce Penner, percussion / Nils Vigeland, piano / Jan Williams, conductor