The Number of Things (1999)

Scored for alto saxophone or clarinet, marimba, and string quartet. Advanced; about 11 minutes. Along with our natural inclinations to enumerate and categorize, we humans have a way of regarding certain numbers as important milestones of our progress or symbols of our persistence; this piece celebrates our inclination to celebrate. Mostly fast and motoric, with a slower, lyrical section near the end. Includes some 4-mallet playing in marimba. Clarinet substitution for alto sax is very workable. Available also in arrangement for Chamber Orchestra (info here), which adds percussion and bass parts and changes the solo part to clarinet. Dedicated to all who devote their energies to the cause of arts education. $15, including score, parts, and demo disk; order here.