Richard Cameron-Wolfe

Solo Clarinet

Composer's Note:
Variations and "Liebestod" was the composer's first commissioned work. It was written for, premiered and recorded by the outstanding clarinetist Michael Limoli. its formal structure consists of an Introduction, the Theme, and six Variations, the last being subtitled "Liebestod". There is one structural detail of relevance: Variation III (a Viennese waltz of sorts) is embedded in the middle of a rather obscure and "eccentric" Variation II. As for the "Liebestod" appellation: in response to Mr. Limoli's early inquiry about a viable interpretation of Variation VI's deconstruction of the theme, the composer - possibly with sarcasm - said "Just love it to death." By mutual agreement, the sixth variation's more civilized subtitle (despite bearing no relation to Wagner's Tristan), became part of the work's full title.