Mary Jungerman - "Clarinet Improvisation"

This is Mary Jungerman, clarinetist, and this recording is in support of my submission for the One Sheet Project for the Arvada Center.

When I began to work on this project, I first began working on the art part and I created a clarinet made out of construction paper. The clarinet that I created suddenly reminded me of the costume associated with the tragic clown figure in the wonderful composition Pierrot Lunaire by Arnold Schoenberg. And just the costume associated with Pierrot, came into my head. I've played the piece Pierrot Lunaire many times. The clown is a character that has some Melancholy to it. I have to admit, I wasn't really thinking of Pierrot Lunaire as I was making the recording, but the music does come out to sound a bit, not tragic, but tender and somewhat Melancholy in places.

All the music is improvised and it's beautifully recorded by recording engineer Scott 'Gusty' Christensen, using bass clarinet and B-flat clarinet. The clarinet figure is dressed in what I associate with the figure of Pierrot Lunaire. It's a white costume with black buttons and it just suddenly came into my mind. There's no direct connection for me with the music to a tragic figure of Pierrot, but that was an inspiration that came to me from... from creating the visual part. The music is, as I said on bass clarinet and on B-flat, clarinet and was made all in one session. I'm really quite honored to be involved in this project and I look forward to seeing all of the artists and their work represented at the Arvada Center.

Thank you very much for including me in this project and I look forward to seeing it all at the Arvada Center.