Bernd Franke

AGNI

AGNI is the Hindu god of fire; the elemental and transformative force inherent in everything: Every flame, every fire, every light, every warmth is AGNI. AGNI is omnipresent, establishing everything and ending everything. AGNI is often depicted with seven tongues which represent different aspects of his being. These include: creating, sustaining, cleansing, purifying, priestly, martial, devastating, destructive, and consuming. Derived from Franke's concerto of the same name, this solo work for bass clarinet compositionally traces the transformative processes initiated by the divine fire. The solo takes seven pieces from the concerto, presenting vivid character pieces exploring the creative possibilities and wide tonal range offered by the bass clarinet.

This version of AGNI for bass clarinet solo was premiered on 4 December 2020 in Leipzig by Volker Hemken, the principal bass clarinetist of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. EP14437a convinces with its excellent and clear notation, making the piece a new standard for bass clarinet.