Clarinet Concerto No.2 Op.115

From the arranger:

Malcolm Arnold’s second clarinet concerto was commissioned by Benny Goodman in 1974.

During the late 1960s, Goodman had phoned Arnold to ask for a concerto and the composer, thinking the call was a prank, told Goodman to “sod off!” All was eventually resolved and the three-movement concerto was premiered with the Denver Symphony Orchestra in August 1974.

The first movement is typically upbeat with its lively, jaunty rhythms, whereas the slow movement is brooding and slightly menacing. The ebullient finale is described in the score as ‘The pre-Goodman Rag’ and is unashamedly irreverent.

This version for concert band by Stephen Roberts was commissioned by Victoria Samek who also gave the first performance which was recorded live in 2018 at London’s Regent Hall with The Band of the RAF Regiment, conducted by Director of Music, Flight Lieutenant Thomas Rodda.

Stephen Roberts, 2026

The E-Edition PDF edition comes with a score and the following parts:

Solo Clarinet in Bb
Piccolo
Flutes 1 & 2
Oboes 1 & 2
Bassoons 1 & 2
Clarinets in Bb 1 , 2 & 3
Bass Clarinet in Bb (with low C)
Alto Saxophones 1 & 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpets 1 , 2 & 3
Horns 1 , 2, 3 & 4
Trombones 1 , 2 & 3
Euphonium
Tuba
Contrabass
Timpani
Percussion (Side Drum, Sus. Cym, Bass Drum, Woodblock, Cowbell)
Mallets (Vibraphone, Xylophone)