Samarkand

Samarkand (1992) is a short piece for clarinet (or viola) and string quartet. Meditative music, an invitation to dream, a moment out of time, all these terms can describe the general atmosphere of the work. The clarinet (or viola) gradually builds a melody on an obstinate motif of the string quartet. This is followed by a more agitated passage in which the instruments respond to each other in rapid values, using more complex rhythms and pointillistic writing. The conclusion sees the gradual suppression of the notes of the main theme, in the collected atmosphere of the beginning. There is a version for clarinet (or viola) and piano.

Ronald Van Spaendonck recorded this piece on CD with the Bruxellensis Quartet (Kalidisc label 2006).