Radovan Stojanovic

Viva la Cavallini!

There is no clarinettist who does not know at least one of Cavallini's Caprices for solo clarinet. These masterpieces of clarinet literature were composed in the bel canto style. Inspired by the life and work of the great maestro, I have composed this homage - a piece for solo clarinet. The first movement takes the form of a prelude. In the second movement, I used a trompe-l'oreille - comparable to the trompe-l'œil, which experienced its heyday in the visual arts - to create the impression that we are not just hearing one instrument, but two. Stringed instruments can produce simultaneous tones and chord-like sounds in the form of arpeggios. This is not possible with wind instruments (with the exception of multiphonics), as they only produce one tone at a time. In this movement, the illusory polyphony is achieved through the rapid alternation of notes and motifs in the high and low registers as well as through question and answer phrases reminiscent of a conversation between different people or perhaps an inner dialog. At the end, there is a short cadenza of just a few bars which takes up the motif from the Allegro molto movement. This time in lento tempo and with morendo expression.