31 Clarinet Compositions Written by Female Composers
In celebration of Women’s History Month, I’ve created a list of 31 pieces for clarinet written by female composers, one for every day this month. By no means is this list comprehensive, but I hope this serves as nice introduction to the wide variety of wonderful music for clarinet by women composers.
I have arranged this list alphabetically by composer’s last name. Please note that many of these composers have written several works featuring the clarinet.
- Unsuk Chin Concerto
- Yi Chen Chinese Ancient Dances
- Yvonne Desportes Trois petits contes
- Marie Félicie Clémence de Grandval Deux Pièces
- Sarah Feigin Fantasy for clarinet and piano
- Keiko Fujiie 3 Pieces, Op. 5
- Ida Gotkovsky Sonata for solo clarinet
- Mary Ann Griebling Wild Wood-Quiet Wood
- Augusta Holmes Fantasie
- Katherine Hoover Concerto
- Betsy Jolas Episode No.9 “Forte magnum colaraturum”
- Barbara Kolb Related Characters
- Caroline Schleicher Kraemer Sonatina
- Libby Larsen Dancing Solo
- Elizabeth Maconchy Clarinet Quintet
- Theresa Martin Gryphon
- Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar Trzy miniatury (Three Miniatures)
- Thea Musgrave Concerto
- Shulamit Ran For an Actor
- Marga Richter Sonata
- Jeanine Rueff Concertino
- Marjorie Maxine Rusche Mood Etudes for two clarinets
- Ruth Schönthal Sonata Concertante
- Jeanne E. Shaffer Three Faces of Women
- Alice Mary Smith Sonata in A
- Margaret Sutherland Sonata
- Germaine Tailleferre Arabesque
- Joan Tower Wings
- Norma Wendelburg Concerto
- Marilyn J. Ziffrin Concerto
- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Concerto
What are your favorite clarinet works written by female composers? Leave a comment below!
17 Comments
Jo-Ann Sternberg
Thanks for this excellent list, Jenny–
A couple more excellent pieces to be added:
Marie Elisabeth Sachsen-Meiningen: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
Amanda Harberg: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
More to come!
Kathleen J Jones
Did you get my feedback about Lotta Hertlein’s Homage for clarinet and piano? Published by Southern
Sean Osborn
Thanks for the list.
Jennifer Higdon – Clarinet Sonata
Valerie Coleman – Sonatine for Clarinet and Piano
Rachel Matthews – Voices of Trees
Priaulx Rainier – Suiet for Clarinet and Pianoforte
BTW, do you know Louise Farrenc? My new favorite Romantic composer. Trio for cl/vc/pf, Sextet for piano and winds, Nonet for strings and winds. She’s amazing.
jennyclarinet
Thanks for these great suggestions! I really enjoy Louise Farrenc’s music – what an amazing composer!
Berkeley Price
I’ve played many great clarinet pieces by female composers such as Dr. Deon Nielsen Price at IAWM, Mu Phi Epsilon, and NACUSA events. A few performances can be found on youtube.
jennyclarinet
Thank you, I’ll be sure to check these out!
Kathleen J Jones
Homage “Sonata for Clarinet and Piano”
by Lotta Maria Hertlein (Riefkohl)
premiered in 1986
published by Southern, chosen by Bernard Portnoy in a contest sponsoreed hy Southern Music
jennyclarinet
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you for the recommendation – I’ll definitely check out this piece! Thanks for giving all of the details for what I’m sure is a wonderful work!
Kathleen J Jones
Homage “Sonata for Clarinet and Piano”
by Lotta Maria Hertlein (Riefkohl)
premiered in 1986
published by Southern, chosen by Bernard Portnoy
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Brian Ebert
Liquid Sings (2004) by Loretta Notareschi (b. 1977) for unaccompanied clarinet
jennyclarinet
I’m not familiar with this piece, so I’ll definitely check it out. Thank you for sharing this with me!
Tasha Dotts
Doina Rotaru’s “Fum” is one of my all time favorite solo clarinet pieces to perform
jennymaclay
I’ve never heard of this piece – I can’t wait to listen! Thank you for sharing!
Berkeley Price
I’ve played many great clarinet pieces by female composers such as Dr. Deon Nielsen Price at IAWM, Mu Phi Epsilon, and NACUSA events. A few performances can be found on youtube.
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Wilfried Berk
Grażyna Bacewicz : Capriccio for clarinet and piano (1949, trans. 1954)