About the Music

The Journey is a dramatic single-movement piece for bass clarinet and piano that would make an excellent addition to a recital program for players of any level. With its limited range, and no requirement for an extended-range bass clarinetist, it is accessible for the younger player or clarinet student who has just recently begun playing bass. Its length and ABA form which contrasts quicker passages with more lyrical ones would make it an excellent selection for contest or recital. The modest rhythmic challenges, as well as some changing meters, would build confidence for the young performer in working with an accompanist. One characteristic of the piece is its intriguing use of harmony. Indeed, the piece ends on a diminished 7th chord indicating that “the journey” never ends.

Score: 7 pages. Part: 3 pages. Extended-range instrument NOT required.

PDF Edition

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About the Composer

Peter J. Pecora, Jr., musician, composer and retired special education teacher, lives in New York State. He studied music at Onondaga Community College (A.A.S.), music education at the State University of New York at Buffalo (B.F.A. & M.F.A.), and special education at Syracuse University (M.S.).

Pete studied clarinet with David Bomstein (1973-1974), Gerald Zampino (1974-1975, at that time principal clarinet of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra), and Allen Sigel at SUNY Buffalo (1975-1978). His flute teachers were John Oberbrunner (1975, at that time principal flute of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra) and Petr Kotik (1976-1977) and Robert Mols (1977-1979) at SUNY Buffalo. He studied composing with Joe Riposo in central New York.

Pete taught private clarinet and saxophone lessons in central New York and was a special education teacher for many years. He has performed in and written music for many bands and musical settings in the Buffalo and Syracuse, NY areas, including jazz, rock, R&B, classical, and gospel music. He has also written music for and directed church choirs.

Pete’s compositions include music for clarinet, flute, and saxophone ranging from solo with piano to trios and quartets. Some of Pete’s compositions for flute have received honors from the National Flute Association in their annual Newly Published Music Competition. In 2020 his arrangement of Sussex Carol was a finalist in the trio category and in 2021 his original piece, The Sailor and the Sea, received an honorable mention in the trio category. His clarinet, flute, saxophone, and double reed compositions are available from Wonderful Winds in England.

Pete's current musical activities, besides composing and arranging, include playing flute and saxophone in the worship band at the church he attends and performing in the central New York area. Pete's music can be found at www.reverbnation.com.

(Photo by Sandra Roe, Photos at 1020)