Pickles and Peppers Rag by Adeline Shepard (1906) set for clarinet quartet by John Gibson. (3 Bb clarinets and 1 bass clarinet). Adeline's ragtime piece became one of the most popular published sheet music of the time and was even used as a theme song in a presidential election. The rhythms are a bit difficult, but they are natural sounding and become second nature as you play them. Great part for the bass clarinet, too!

Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumble Bee has been a favorite of audiences since its beginning. His musical picture of a buzzing bee gives musicians a chance to show off their chromatic scale skills. This arrangement by John Gibson let's everyone join in the chromatic fun. It is set for clarinet quartet (3 Bb clarinets and 1 bass clarinet). I listed this as advanced intermediate due to the tempo, but if played slower it is playable by less advanced players. It will keep your group buszzzzzy! 2016 Chamber Music Contest Entry.

This is one of John Lennon and Paul McCartney's great songs from their group, The Beatles. Set as a jazz waltz for clarinet quartet by John Gibson this would be a perfect performance piece for your quartet (3 Bb clarinets and 1 bass clarinet). It runs about 2 1/2 minutes. 2016 Arranging Contest Entry.

Gabriel Faure's Pavane (1887) is perfect for dinner music, church services, or as a quiet interlude in a recital. Arranged for clarinet quartet (3 Bb clarinets and 1 bass/4th clarinet). This music is not necessarily easy, but is readily accessible. Includes the score and parts. It is also available in a set of pieces called Comfort Music. You can watch a video of the score on You Tube at https://youtu.be/4drVVEupMcI.

Gabriel Pierne's Opus 30, Pastoral Variations in the Old Style was written in 1894 for piano and he later set the piece for six winds. There are seven brief movements, all in a different style borrowing from older styles (Style Ancien). This is a setting of the piece for clarinet quartet by John Gibson and includes both the score and parts. (3 Bb Clarinets and 1 Bass Clarinet) The music is not too difficult and could be handled by good intermediate players, depending on the tempos taken by the group.

Gustav Holst - Folksongs of Hampshire England . In the early 1900's there was great interest in collecting and preserving the folk songs of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Equipped with their newly invented recording devices, people such as Cecil Sharp, Charles Stanford, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Gustav Holst would travel into the country-side to record, or notate songs being sung. They would frequently use these songs in their own compositions. Holst's music in particular is filled with those songs and his two suites for band are especially valued by wind bands around the world. This group of four songs was arranged for voice and piano by Holst and set for clarinet choir by John Gibson. The songs are 1. Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low 2. Bedlam City 3. The Irish Girl 4. Young Reilly. The instrumentation is: Eb Soprano Clarinet, Bb Soprano Clarinet 1 - 3, Alto Clarinet (with an alternate 4th Bb part), Bass Clarinet, Contra Bass or Contralto. Although an alternate for alto is provided, the alto is preferred.

"The Old Rugged Cross" has been a country gospel favorite ever since it became the title song of Ernest Tubb's 1952 gospel album; it has been performed by some of the twentieth century's most important recording artists, including Andy Griffith, Anne Murray, Brad Paisley, Chet Atkins, John Berry, Floyd Cramer, George Jones, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Loretta Lynn, Ray Price, Ricky Van Shelton, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. The Oak Ridge Boys, The Statler Brothers, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, George Beverly Shea and John Prine on the 2007 CD "Standard Songs for Average People" with Mac Wiseman. British television dramatist Dennis Potter used the gospel song prominently in several of his plays, most notably Pennies from Heaven (1978); and the song also played a major part in "Gridlock" (2007), an episode of the long-running sci-fi drama series Doctor Who. In early 2009, the song was covered by Johnny Cash and June Carter, Kevin Max, Mahalia Jackson, Merle Haggard, and Patsy Cline. Parts included for this arrangement are: Full Score, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Acoustic Bass (Optional).

Performance Time: Approx. 2 minutes 15 seconds