Di Vivere (1981)

DI VIVERE, although self-contained, continues a music of contrasting sonorities found in MESTIERE for piano (1979) (published by Merion Music/Theodore Presser) and completes the title of Cesare Pavese's collected journals, IL MESTIERE DI VIVERE, The Business of Living. In a single movement it explores both the inward and outward directed music of the clarinet an·d piano, heightened and further exteriorized by the coloration of a trio of flute, violin and 'cello, Whereas MESTIERE is what one is and does, what is integral to one's life and work, DI VIVERE suggests the fluctuating intensities of being alive. This work is structured in such a way that it could be performed as simply a duet for clarinet and piano. Written for the Da Capo Chamber Players, DI VIVERE is dedicated with deepest friendship and respect to David Olan, composer and clarinetist, The writing of this work was supported in part by a National Endowment for the Arts Composer/Librettist Fellowship Grant, 1980-1981, and a Fellowship from The MacDowell Colony, 1981.

• The quintet, the duet or the piano solo may be performed individually or in one of the following combinations:
I. DI VIVERE duet and quintet
II. MESTIERE and DI VIVERE duet and quintet
III. MESTIERE and DI VIVERE quintet
IV. MESTIERE and DI VIVERE duet