Clarinet Sonatas & Other Works

Renowned as a virtuoso Jazz clarinetist and legendary bandleader, Benny Goodman is also remembered for the works he commissioned from leading composers of his day. Poulenc's strikingly beautiful Clarinet Sonata was his last composition, while Bernstein's was his first published piece. Both Gershwin and Stravinsky added their distinctive stamp to the swing vibe which was all the rage in the early 20th century. The Jazz flavor of Morton Gould's Benny's Gig is heightened by the unusual coupling of clarinet and double bass, while pungent folk rhythms define Bartók's virtuoso Contrasts.