Be(com)ing: Clarinet Part(s)

Be(com)ing distills Harvey's compositional philosophy into a work that challenges clarinetists to think about transformation and growth. The piece demands technical sophistication while remaining deeply musical, rewarding both the performer's technical ambition and the audience's emotional investment.

The piece unfolds as a journey of transformation, its title mirrored in the music itself as the clarinet discovers new facets of its own voice. It balances moments of stillness with passages of propulsive energy, creating an introspective yet forward-moving arc.

Advanced clarinetists who are ready to engage with contemporary concert music written by a major twentieth-century composer. This work suits recital programming, competitions, and student soloists preparing for university-level auditions.

• Pay close attention to dynamic shaping across longer phrases; Harvey uses gradual dynamic curves to create architectural coherence rather than sudden contrasts.
• Explore the tonal spectrum of the clarinet throughout the register transitions; the work often asks you to find new colors at familiar pitches.
• Balance precision in the notated material with interpretive freedom in how you approach timing within measures; the score rewards both commitment and elasticity.

Feature this in a contemporary music showcase or as part of a recital exploring twentieth-century instrumental writing. It pairs naturally with other solo works that explore extended techniques and spectral harmony, offering audiences a window into how modern composers reimagine the classical solo tradition.

• Extended techniques specific to contemporary clarinet writing
• Tonal flexibility across the entire register
• Structural understanding of non-traditional harmonic language
• Interpretive decision-making within a score that combines precision with flexibility
• Stamina and focus for a substantial solo work