Nimbus! for Solo Clarinet and Media

Commissioned by Dr. Michael Dean, dedicated to Nimbus

Nimbus! is dedicated to the Dean family and their two-year-old golden retriever, Nimbus. The work blends the spirit of Nimbus (a big, loving dog who’s still a bit of an excited puppy) and the inspiration for the name Nimbus (meaning ‘halo’). Nimbus! represents both Nimbus the dog and the companionship dogs offer us humans, a sacred gift of common grace for us all to enjoy. The media track features pre-recorded clips of clarinetist Michael Dean playing four clarinets: Bb, A, Eb, and Bass clarinets. In the piece, the spirit of Nimbus finds itself in the rapid, fluttering gestures in the media accompaniment. The solo part and media accompaniment part mirror each other at times like a companion. Yet, the parts are not exact mirror images of each other. The fragmented melodies in the media swell and burst, continually breathing life and excitement into the piece, feeding its rhythmic pulse. The clarinet solo compliments this driving rhythm often with soaring lyrical melodies, foreshadowing the heartfelt ending of the piece. Eventually, the lyrical solo part tames the frenetic accompaniment. The work ends with an homage to Nimbus’ great-uncle Andy with a whimsical quote from Robert Fruehwald’s Andy and Me.

Difficulty: Hard | Duration: 5 minutes