Erato Ensemble - Three Romances (Daniel Dorff)

Jeff Pelletier, flute
Julie Begg, clarinet

3 Romances
“Three Romances” was composed “by accident” in several stages. Throughout the summer of 2006, I was mainly focused on writing a lengthy piano concerto. One day in July 2006, a frisky-sounding duet for flute and clarinet just popped out. It was a complete movement, but too short to be a stand-alone composition, so I decided to write a few more companion movements. The next day I wrote beginnings of two more, and then went back to work on the concerto. In January 2007 the piano concerto was done, and I came back to these sketches. One turned into a steamy tango, perhaps influenced by the style of Jobim, so I called it “Sultry.” The other was very lyrical, and full of a sighing motive, so I called it “Languid,” not realizing this might imply a slower tempo than the allegro that’s called for. Given those subtitles, the last movement became “Frisky,” whichisperhapsanunderstatement.Oddly,I’dwritten three movements without knowing what order to play them in. Despite the many long notes, “Languid” is an allegro, and despite the many 8ths and 16ths, “Sultry” is most effective when played as a slow steamy bump- and-grind song. The “Frisky” finale may be played as fast as remains comfortable.
The title “Three Romances” was an afterthought, perhaps inspired by Schumann’s title, simply because they’re lyrical with a lot of expressive potential.
~ Daniel Dorff