Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs
For clarinet and jazz ensemble
Prelude, Fugue and Riffs is a "written-out" jazz-in-concert-hall composition composed by Leonard Bernstein for a jazz ensemble featuring solo clarinet. The title points to the union of classical music and jazz: Prelude (first movement) and Fugue (second movement) – both baroque forms – are followed immediately without a pause by a series of "riffs" (third movement), which is a jazz term for a repeated and short melodic figure.
Movements
- Prelude for the Brass
- Fugue for the Saxes
- Riffs for Everyone
Recommended recordings
- Benny Goodman · Columbia Jazz Combo · Leonard Bernstein YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
- Ensemble · Michael Tilson Thomas YouTubeSpotify (subscription)