Protostar: 2nd B-flat Clarinet

Protostar evokes the slow, gravitational collapse of cosmic dust coalescing into something radiant. The harmonic language pulls inward and outward, creating a sense of movement and transformation that's both unsettling and awe-struck.

Young concert bands ready to stretch beyond diatonic repertoire. This work fits ensembles that have solid fundamentals and are prepared to tackle modern sonorities with curiosity rather than resistance.

• Balance the dissonant harmonies carefully; young players often want to soften or compromise intonation around unfamiliar sonorities. Drill these moments so the band commits fully to the intended sound.
• Use the 2:25 duration to map out your pacing in rehearsal. Mark where momentum builds and where the cosmic imagery calls for restraint, so the performance feels deliberate rather than rushed.
• Highlight the individual voice lines that create those unique chord structures. Many students won't recognize what they're playing as a unified harmonic event, so isolate sections by part to build ownership and clarity.

Use Protostar to anchor a thematic concert exploring science and music, or program it alongside a contemporary piece for band to show your ensemble's expanding musical vocabulary. Its length and grade level make it an excellent contest selection that commands attention without requiring advanced virtuosity.

• Reading and performing contemporary harmonic language (dissonance and unconventional chord structures)
• Intonation in non-traditional tonalities
• Individual voice independence within complex ensemble textures
• Musical expression informed by extramusical imagery
• Balance of multiple lines with contrasting harmonic functions