Copland – Clarinet Concerto (Slowly and expressively) (1949)

“Slowly and expressively” is the first movement of Aaron Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, composed between 1947–1949 for Benny Goodman.

This opening section is a lyrical, tender, and melancholic piece featuring strings and harp. It showcases the clarinet’s expressive, singing quality with a poignant,, melodic tone.

Key details about this work:

• Structure: It acts as the slow introduction to a two-movement, continuous work, followed by a cadenza and a jazzy second movement.
• Style: It features long, tender lines, a warm texture, and subtle influences of Latin American music.
• Context: Commissioned in 1947, it is a key example of American 20th-century music, often described as having a “shimmering, warm” texture.
• Performance: The movement sets up the technical virtuosity of the subsequent cadenza and final movement.