Cult Classics for Clarinet: Clarinet & Piano Book

Cinematic and urbane. The collection spans everything from the menacing minimalism of Halloween to the classical grandeur of Ode to Joy, but each piece carries the dramatic weight of its source film. There's real sophistication here, both in the original compositions and in how Harris has adapted them.

Clarinet students in their second or third year of study who need music that feels current and engaging. This book works equally well for the serious young player developing performance stamina and for community or adult learners who want material with immediate cultural resonance.

• Study the film scenes themselves before rehearsal. Watching a 30-second clip of Misiriou from Pulp Fiction or the opening of Halloween will ground your phrasing in the original intent far better than any annotation.
• Balance the clarinet line against the piano without overpowering it. Many of these themes work best when the melody sits naturally within the texture rather than dominating the accompaniment.
• Pay attention to the arrangement's harmonic choices. Harris often adapts the original orchestration for the duo medium, which means unexpected chord colors that deserve clear articulation to land.

Use individual selections as recital pieces throughout the year, or program the entire collection as a thematic concert exploring film music across genres. A few of these pieces also work well as encores after more traditional programming, especially for younger audiences.

• Sustaining lyrical lines with dynamic control over longer phrases
• Interpreting period and stylistic cues from non-classical sources
• Balancing melodic content with sensitive accompaniment listening
• Navigating varied harmonic contexts and modal writing
• Performing with dramatic intention and character awareness