Double Dog Dare

I was deeply honored when – after having performed my clarinet sonata – Steve Cohen asked me if I would consider something for solo unaccompanied clarinet. In a sense, it was a nice full-circle moment, given that one of my first works ever composed was an unaccompanied clarinet piece entitled Etude Caprice. That piece had been written just on a whim, when I was just a hobbyist of a composer. Now doing it full-time, I was delighted to receive the request, which was further enhanced by the fact that the request was coming from someone of Steve’s stature.

When discussing how to set up the commission, I mentioned the idea to him of getting others involved, something I had done on several other occasions, and a method by which many others can take part in the process, and subsequently be invested in its outcome. This sense of community has always been a high priority for me in my compositional life. And thus, Double Dog Dare was born. I wanted to write apiece that was both mysterious and technically exciting all at once. A piece that could be interpreted many different ways, so that each individual might bring something new to the experience. The title does not have much to do with the music, other than the idea that the player could/might (dare to) add as much intensity and agitated atmosphere into the work. This should almost be an effort to scare the audience, and keep them on the edge of their seat, in anticipation of whatever might come next.

Jim Stephenson; May 8, 2019