Works
Bridges (2006) for clarinet, violin, and piano

Publisher

Theodore Presser

Year of Composition

2006

Duration

14'

Instrumentation

Clarinet, violin, and piano

Categories

Chamber Music

Movements

I. Railroad Trestle Bridge, Galax, Virginia
II. Stone Bridge, Suzhou, China
III. The Golden Gate Bridge, California
IV. The Brooklyn Bridge, New York

Other Versions

Version for clarinet, bass clarinet, erhu, and pipa
Version for mixed octet
Version for orchestra

Program Note

Drawn from the folk music of China and America, organized around four actual bridges: Railroad Trestle Bridge in Galax, Virginia; Stone Bridge Over a Reflecting Pool in Suzhou, China; Golden Gate Bridge; Brooklyn Bridge

Railroad Trestle uses the motoric rhythm of a train and the sound of a fiddle and banjo playing country music. Stone Bridge is based on a traditional Chinese song called Moli Hua or Jasmine Flower. Golden Gate Bridge recalls the folk music of the 1960's and 70's in California, particularly a song by Joan Baez. Brooklyn Bridge brings together a second meaning of the word "bridge" in that it refers to the "B" or "bridge"section of a be-bop standard, Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm."

Audio/Video

Commercial Recordings

Peculiar Plants (Albany Records)

Commission & Premiere Info

Commissioned by Birds and Phoenix
Version for clarinet, bass clarinet, erhu, and pipa premiered by John Yeh, Teresa Reilly, Yang Wei and Wang Guowei at Fontana Chamber Arts in Kalamazoo, MI on August 13, 2006

Posted: Feb-4-2025
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