Jules Benedict | Dirge for the Faithful Lover | for Clarinet Quintet

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Bring the poignant beauty of Victorian choral tradition to your ensemble with this expressive arrangement of Julius Benedict’s Dirge for the Faithful Lover. Originally composed in 1869 as a partsong for choir, Benedict’s setting of Beaumont and Fletcher’s Jacobean text captures the timeless themes of grief, fidelity, and remembrance.

This clarinet quintet arrangement preserves the solemn, hymn-like character of the original while exploring the rich sonorities and lyrical blend unique to the clarinet family. The arrangement balances homophonic textures with moments of expressive counterpoint, allowing each player to contribute to the ensemble’s mournful resonance.

Clarinet Quintet

1.      Clarinet in Eb, Clarinet in Bb

2.      Clarinet in Bb

3.      Clarinet in Bb, Alto Clarinet in Eb, Basset Horn

4.      Alto Clarinet in Eb, Bass Clarinet in Bb, Basset Horn

5.      Bass Clarinet in Bb, Contrabass Clarinet in Bb