Bass Clarinet and Piano

Program Notes

Stumbling Forward is a new bass clarinet + piano work following the response to There and Back, my bass clarinet piece that has since been performed in concert halls and at conferences around the world. Where There and Back takes a broader and more involved journey, Stumbling Forward is shorter, punchier, and built for immediate energy.

The piece begins with an awkward stumbling gesture that lands heavily in the piano’s low register before launching into a fast-moving mix of groove, singing melodies, uneven meters, and simple glissandi in the the altissimo register. After a brief expressive turn in the middle, the music regains its momentum and drives toward an exciting, high-energy conclusion.

At around 4½ minutes, Stumbling Forward is designed as a vivid, rewarding concert work that is easier to fit on a program while still giving the bass clarinetist plenty of personality, motion, and flair.

I’m opening a small Founding Players group for those who’d like to support Stumbling Forward early.

For $75, you’ll receive:

- your name listed in the music as a Founding Player

- instant delivery of the PDF on release day: June 24, 2026

Join Us

Thanks for being part of the piece from the very beginning.