Jenni Brandon - Starry Night for Solo Clarinet in B-flat

Starry Night for solo B-flat Clarinet is a three-movement work for solo B-flat clarinet that tells of the night skies and our fascination with what lies in them. Using poetry and texts from Gerard Manley Hopkins, John Keats, and Van Gogh (whose painting is also the inspiration for the title of this work), these movements tell of the stars as “fire-folk” and how the sight of stars can make us dream.

I. The Starlight Night
Look at the stars! look, look up at the skies!
O look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air!
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)

II. Bright Star!
Bright Star! Would I were steadfast as thou art-
Not in lone splendor hang aloft the night!
John Keats (1795-1821)

III. The Sight of Stars
For my part I know nothing with any certainty,
but the sight of stars makes me dream.
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)