Girl with the Flaxen Hair: 8 Clarinets & Percussion Score & Parts

David Marlatt's arrangement captures the shimmer and delicacy of Debussy's original while distributing the writing across a clarinet choir in ways that feel natural to the medium. The use of seven clarinets and bass clarinet creates harmonic density without sacrificing the piece's impressionistic character, and the optional percussion parts add color without overwhelming the ensemble.

The piece evokes impressionistic painting translated into sound: shimmering, translucent, with colors that shift subtly from moment to moment. The clarinet choir creates a luminous texture that feels both delicate and full, establishing an introspective mood that never settles into a predictable harmonic center.

This arrangement suits clarinet choirs, high school and college clarinet ensembles, and wind bands seeking a medium-level piece with impressionistic sophistication. It works equally well for contest preparation or concert programming when you want to demonstrate your ensemble's range beyond standard band or orchestra repertoire.

• Balance the ensemble so the bass clarinet anchors the harmony underneath the higher voices; test that its presence supports rather than dominates the texture.
• Approach the piece's harmonic shifts as changes in color rather than dramatic gestures; use slight dynamic shaping and slight air speed adjustments to highlight Debussy's progression of sonorities.
• If using percussion, treat it as a textural element that complements the clarinet writing; avoid making it a separate section.
• Practice the intonation of whole-tone and parallel harmonic structures in sections; these chords need precision to sound like Debussy intended rather than out of tune.

Program this as a chamber work within a larger concert to showcase your ensemble's versatility and musicality in a non-traditional setting. It pairs well with contemporary works or as a bridge between classical and modern pieces, and its moderate length makes it ideal for festival competitions where variety demonstrates musical sophistication.

• Blending and balancing within a clarinet choir across multiple registers
• Intonation control in whole-tone and parallel harmonic structures
• Interpreting impressionistic harmonic language and harmonic ambiguity
• Responding to subtle dynamic and tonal color changes as an ensemble
• Ensemble coordination with optional percussion parts