The Devil's Final Challenge for Violin, Clarinet and piano score and parts
On Sale
$35.00
$35.00
The Devil’s Final Challenge composed in 2018 is scored for violin, clarinet and piano and is commissioned by and dedicated to the Zodiac Trio. It was written as a companion piece to Igor Stravinsky’s Histoire du Soldat on the 100th anniversary of that great masterpiece. Below is the story:
Part One: Introduction:
The devil is very old and is now retired and living in Queens NYC and spends most of his days walking the streets playing tricks on people. One day sees a poster about an international music competition where the final round will be televised internationally. Not being able to resist the allure of international fame and adoration he decides to accept the challenge.
Part Two: The Rehearsal-Interlude
Upon returning home the devil goes up to his attic searching for his old violin. It has been years since he played it and the strings have become rusty and badly out of tune. His fingers are also very stiff and he struggles with the bow and the intonation. Gradually he begins to loosen up a bit and with some practice is able to get his playing back to the level he used to play at. Never one to follow rules, he composes an enchanted melody that will bewitch all listeners thus insuring he wins the competition. By the end of the rehearsal he is playing like a real virtuoso and ready to play in the challenge. Because he is very old, his powers are not as strong as they use to be so the enchanted melody curse will only last for a twenty-four hour period.
Part Three: The Challenge:
The devil makes it to the final round of the competition, which is now down to two contestants, a Klezmer clarinetist from Brooklyn and himself. The clarinetist plays first beginning his solo slowly leading into the Klezmer tune Der Heyser Bulgar (Hot Bulgar) The devil rudely interrupts him a couple of times but he is not distracted by the devil and gradually reaches a fever pitch of virtuosity. The devil joins in and they two of begin a musical duel. Then to ensure his victory the devil begins to play the enchanted melody but the clarinetist interrupts him and the two continue the dual. The devil got so distracted that he lost track of time that he didn’t realize that he reached the twenty-four hour timeline for the spell and his playing begins to fall apart. It gradually gets worse and worse and as his intonation and technique fails him the clarinetist seizes the opportunity and starts to play over the devil thus confusing his even more. Gradually the devil’s playing comes to a grinding halt as the clarinetist continues to surpass him and wins the competition. Frustrated the devil slips away back to Queens and it is said he is sometimes seen teasing dogs and playing tricks on little children.
Part One: Introduction:
The devil is very old and is now retired and living in Queens NYC and spends most of his days walking the streets playing tricks on people. One day sees a poster about an international music competition where the final round will be televised internationally. Not being able to resist the allure of international fame and adoration he decides to accept the challenge.
Part Two: The Rehearsal-Interlude
Upon returning home the devil goes up to his attic searching for his old violin. It has been years since he played it and the strings have become rusty and badly out of tune. His fingers are also very stiff and he struggles with the bow and the intonation. Gradually he begins to loosen up a bit and with some practice is able to get his playing back to the level he used to play at. Never one to follow rules, he composes an enchanted melody that will bewitch all listeners thus insuring he wins the competition. By the end of the rehearsal he is playing like a real virtuoso and ready to play in the challenge. Because he is very old, his powers are not as strong as they use to be so the enchanted melody curse will only last for a twenty-four hour period.
Part Three: The Challenge:
The devil makes it to the final round of the competition, which is now down to two contestants, a Klezmer clarinetist from Brooklyn and himself. The clarinetist plays first beginning his solo slowly leading into the Klezmer tune Der Heyser Bulgar (Hot Bulgar) The devil rudely interrupts him a couple of times but he is not distracted by the devil and gradually reaches a fever pitch of virtuosity. The devil joins in and they two of begin a musical duel. Then to ensure his victory the devil begins to play the enchanted melody but the clarinetist interrupts him and the two continue the dual. The devil got so distracted that he lost track of time that he didn’t realize that he reached the twenty-four hour timeline for the spell and his playing begins to fall apart. It gradually gets worse and worse and as his intonation and technique fails him the clarinetist seizes the opportunity and starts to play over the devil thus confusing his even more. Gradually the devil’s playing comes to a grinding halt as the clarinetist continues to surpass him and wins the competition. Frustrated the devil slips away back to Queens and it is said he is sometimes seen teasing dogs and playing tricks on little children.