Output details

'Kleztet' for wind quintet

Kleztet (2008) was written expressly for the members of the ArteCombo, to celebrate composer Ennio Morricone’s 80th birthday. It is cast in a traditional three-movement form; a slow middle section being preceded and followed by lively, highly rhythmic pieces. The faster outer movements are marked by intervallic relationships, formed through contrasting dynamics, interlocking rhythmic figures and alternating pitch levels.

Certain jazz and Klezmer music techniques are utilized in the traditional and strict sense, most particularly for clarinet and horn. False downbeats (Sfz) occurring within the bar are points of attack giving the piece its propulsion. Prominence of individual instruments is determined by their placement within a phrase as well as their indicated dynamic levels. Each movement contains an approximate cadenza i.e. a written-out improvisatory section.

My compositional research here was once again about extending techniques and timbres through new sound effects and soundscapes and to feature frequent colour changes. In Kleztet the instruments blend and cross one another in patterns. Players must possess a solid technical facility and must control intonation strictly. Knowledge and understanding of the work’s jazz and Klezmer influences is also vital for the performance of this work.

Commissioned by the International Cannes Film Festival, the premiere of Kleztet took place during the Cannes Festival in May 2008.

Kleztet is currently my most-performed piece worldwide, having been heard at major music festivals in France, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Israel, Japan and USA. The work has also featured in woodwind competitions in France, Poland and Japan.

The score is published by June Emerson Music Publishers (UK, 2011), chosen as Editor’s Choice in 2011. The first CD recording was released in Japan (2009) with a second released in France (2011). Kleztet is also now available on ITunes store worldwide.