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Elastic Band  is an edgy, playful work that fuses jazz, rock, funk, and classical idioms. It was conceived as a fun, divertimento-like work. The title refers to both the elastic nature of the work–which happily straddles the Classical, 21st Century, and Pop music worlds–and to a pun: the ensemble writing is often more reminiscent of a jazz “little big band” than a traditional chamber ensemble. The original sextet scoring (clarinet and string quartet) has classical resonances. But, add percussion to the mix, and a decidedly jazzy-rock tinge emerges: the Mozart Clarinet Quintet… with a twist, if you will. Contact the composer for the original sextet version.

A brief and accurate history of all things Elastic as it relates to Band

Elastic Band is an edgy, playful work that fuses jazz, rock, funk, and classical idioms. It has proven to be extremely popular, so I now offer it in "different flavors." Therein lies the confusion. The original Sextet (1996, clarinet, string quartet, and percussion) was cast in four movements. Versions 2-4 are in a more succinct three movements. Next came the Chamber Orchestra revision (2015 clarinet, strings, and 2 percussion) commissioned by Grace Cho and Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez of the New Orchestra of Washington. I knew it would make a great chamber orchestra piece: more bass, more color, and more percussion. But, as chamber ensembles requested Elastic Band, I wanted to keep the piece’s new fullness and concision, so I started my reduction from the chamber orchestra version. The first reduction was a Septet (2017, clarinet, string quintet, and percussion, gotta have that bass!), scored for Evan Solomon and Inscape Chamber Orchestra, and then Jonathan Newman and Timothy J. Robblee at Shenandoah Conservatory asked for an Octet edition (2018, clarinet, string quintet, and 2 percussion, a more exacting reduction of the chamber orchestra version) for the Edge Ensemble. In 2017 the Acis label releases the New Orchestra of Washington’s chamber orchestra recording (available on CD at iTunes and Amazon). This is the version you are more likely to hear. Finally, in 2018 I was asked Leo Sushansky’s National Chamber Ensemble to make a Trio version (clarinet, piano, and percussion) for Julian Miklis of the middle movement, “Pure Happenchance.” By my count that’s 4.33 versions so far. While vastly different, the trio works so well that I’d consider scoring the whole piece for that ensemble. Version 5? Any takers? Contact me.

In conclusion: make sure you look for the version of Elastic Band that fits your needs.

Movements

1. Rise
2. Pure Happenchance
3. An end-ish beginning… And a dream
4. Stretch: Snap Back!