by Bruce Stark
clarinet octet
(Eb, 4 Bb, alto, bass, contrabass or contraalto)
4 minutes 30 seconds
score (25 pages) and parts
Until now there hasn't been a piece like this with its syncopated, lively 7/8 meter. It is very fun for the players, and captivates audiences in a way that makes them forget the passing of time. Highly recommended!
-Kazuo Fujii, clarinetist and educator
PROGRAM NOTES
A syncopated bit of fun in 7/4 time, Takumi's Boogie was originally a four-hands piano piece dedicated to my good friend Takumi Eguchi. I had the pleasure of performing a version of it for flute, clarinet and piano with clarinetist Kazuo Fujii in Tokyo, after which he urged me to make this arrangement for clarinet octet. In preparing this version I composed new sections and made many re-writes; I hope the piece offers a challenging but fun and rewarding addition to the clarinet ensemble repertory. A special thanks goes to Mr. Fujii for his encouragement and helpful advice, and to Takumi Eguchi, for his many years of friendship.
— Bruce Stark