Jenni Brandon - Chansons de la Nature pour la Clarinette for Solo B-flat Clarinet and Delay

Chansons tells a story about nature as told by the clarinet’s agile voice. The French titles and basis of the pieces were inspired by the lyrical and pastoral quality of the French language and the images it invokes. The piece is also inspired by the images presented in Aesop’s fables (and Jean de la Fontain’s retelling of them); in particular, the movement “Le Lièvre et la Tortue” tells of the slow tortoise beating the fast hare with his patience and determination. Both creatures are represented in this movement, from the plodding of the tortoise to the quick movements of the hare.

The other movements also represent a variety of characters and situations from these famous fables. “Le Poisson” darts, “Le Papillon” flutters and floats, “L’étoile” shimmers in the night sky, nature ‘dances’, and “Le Serpent” is slippery and quick. Each movement is short, but just long enough to evoke a story and create a ‘song of nature’ for the clarinet.

A recording of the non-delay version is available on the CD Songs of California: Music for Winds and Piano. In addition, Chansons was required repertoire for the 2020-2021 International Clarinetist Corona Competition – Classical Category.

Movements
I. Les Oiseaux
II. Le Poisson
III. Le Papillon
IV. Le Lièvre et La Tortue
V. L’Etoile
VI. Dansez!
VII. Le Serpent