Dog Tales Chamber Music - Sheet Music

SKU: PR.FH0517

ISBN 9781491129968. UPC: 680160675029. 9x12 inches.

In a style that is at once vernacular and refined, Adrienne Albert's DOG TALES is an irresistably playful and pleasing trio for flute/piccolo, clarinet/bass clarinet, and piano. The first movement, "Three Dog Night," draws on the lively antics of the composer's dogsitting experiences. The second, "Dodger," imagines the composer's dog (named Dodger) dodging traffic as he tries to find his way home. The third and final movement, "Mutt & Steff," is a witty scherzo depicting a chihuauhua (the piccolo) and a great dane (bass clarinet) trying to work out how to get along together. DOG TALES offers a delightful and rewarding journey for performers and audiences alike.
When I was commissioned to compose a new work for the November, 2014 concert of Palisades Virtuosi, I was told that the theme of the concert was “Music Borne our of Adversity.” Another Holocaust piece, I thought? Or maybe something to do with Ebola? Oh no. Too depressing. How was I to knoe that, at the exact same time, my rescue dog, Dodger, would run away from a friend’s home miles away from where we live? Frightened and trying to find his way back home, he ended up even further away. Good fortune smiled down on us! A kind and generous dog lover found and held him in his car until we made our way to pick up this tired animal who was totally dehydrated and exhausted from running miles to who-knows-where. Those who know Los Angeles and the enormous distances between places and the number of cars know that this little creature had to cross many four-to-six lane boulevards and streets before his little legs could carry him no further. As Tennessee Williams said, “the kindness of strangers” was, in this case, what saved my precious dog. To the homeless lady who held him, to my friend who drove me to him, and the man who kept him safe in his car, I forever thank them wherever they are.Each movement of DOG TALES has a story. The first movement, Three Dog Night, refers to my dogsitting for neighbors who have two dogs and go away frequently on long trips. One can only imagine what ensues during those long nights at my house trying to take care of three dogs. Hence, the irregular time signatures and the overlapping motifs. The second movement, The Artful Dodger, is a tone poem to my dear dog who “artfully” managed to “dodge” the traffic and possible horrible outcomes on his journey. The last movement, Mutt & Steff, is a short, and I think, humorous homage to a Chihuaha (think small dog = piccolo) and a Great Dane (bass clarinet) who try to figure out how to get along and live together.It is with pleasure that I composed this work for Palisades Virtuosi, three outstanding musicians whose commitment to commissioning new works for their unusual ensemble is extraordinary.–Adrienne Albert.