20th Annual Student Research Conference
Fine Arts
The Classical Collaborations of Benny Goodman
Dana J. Mottet
Dr. Jesse D. Krebs, Faculty Mentor
While many musicians know Benny Goodman (1909-1986) as the "King of Swing” few are aware of his work as a classical musician. Goodman was active as both a jazz and classical clarinetist. He recorded Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet with the Budapest String Quartet and with the Boston Symphony String Quartet. He also recorded concerti by Mozart, Weber, and Nielsen. Goodman collaborated with several composers producing works that have become standard repertoire. He commissioned and/or premiered works such as Contrasts by Bartok, Derivations and Benny’s Gig by Gould, and concerti by Arnold, Copland, Hindemith, and Milhaud. For my presentation I will provide brief biographical information on Benny Goodman focusing on his work as a classical musician. I will discuss pieces he commissioned and premiered, and play excerpts on my clarinet from Hindemith’s Concerto and Gould’s Benny’s Gig. I will also play a sample of Goodman performing Copland’s Concerto.
Keywords: Benny Goodman, clarinet, classical, music
Topic(s):Music
Presentation Type: Performance Art
Session: 52-2
Location: OP 1393 (Performance Hall)
Time: 3:00 pm