Bass Clarinet Quartet Compositions & Arrangements

Edmund Welles – Origin & Genesis

In 1996, I began to write and arrange for the, at the time, very unusual instrumentation of four bass clarinets. Knowing intimately as I did the endless sonic, musical and expressive possibilities of just one bass clarinet–not to mention its 4 1/2 octave range–it was an obvious development in order to cover the same ground as: a gospel vocal quartet, a contrapuntal organ, a SATB choir, or the vocals–guitar–bass–drums of a rock band, or anything else that might enter the imagination. This format and composition “project” took over my life from about 1997 until 2012, with a highly active period including the leading of a live ensemble of this instrumentation, called Edmund Welles, from 2003-2014.

Listen or buy audio from the players below, and click on the Add to Cart button to purchase the notation/sheet music. A handful of scores are available for free.

Original Compositions for four bass clarinets (bass clarinet quartet): multi-movement suites.

An imaginal journey into beekeeping and the world of bees, this was the beginning of my lengthy bass clarinet quartet composition path.  Always good to start things off with a nature trilogy.

I. In a Crowded Comb
II. Flowers & Honey
III. Escape from Bee Mountain





Purchase Notation $40 

This piece can be described as a minimalist trance piece written with the intention of engendering an inner state of calm, mystery and extreme openness and expansion. The sonority and sustain of the bass clarinet quartet are ideal in evoking these expanded qualities, in addition to using breath to create all of the sounds. The textural and mood possibilities of the bass clarinet quartet inspired me to compose a piece that would guide the listener towards a certain state of mind or being; a deepened mood that would change one’s perception of time and space.






Purchase Notation $45 

Four movements for bass clarinet quartet based on The Three Books of Occult Philosophy (1433) by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa.

Agrippa’s 3 Books

I.            Cause & Effect
II.           The Black Lodge
III.         Corso v. Torchia
IIII.        Asmodëus: The Destroyer, King of the Demons

Commissioned by Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation New Works Creation and Presentation Award 2004.  $10,000 grant commissioning a four-movement composition and performances by Edmund Welles: the bass clarinet quartet. Premiered in August and September of 2005 in Berkeley, CA (Epic Arts), New York, NY (The Stone), and San Francisco, CA (Old First Church). Subsequent performance at Switchboard Music Festival in 2009, San Francisco, CA.

2005 Top Ten Albums of 2005/Top Ten Performances of 2005 Andrey Henkin, editor of All About Jazz NYC
Agrippa’s 3 Books performance at John Zorn’s The Stone in August 2005
Agrippa’s 3 Books the album, mixed by sound alchemist Oz Fritz (Bill Laswell, Tom Waits, Primus)

The first full length Edmund Welles album was titled after and released in conjunction with the premiere performances of Agrippa’s 3 Books.
Buy and listen to it on CD Baby here or at bandcamp here.








Purchase Notation $55 

Three movements for bass clarinet quartet and shakuhachi with tabla/percussion and vocalist/throat singer.

2012: A Requiem for Baktun 12 [the 13th and Final Cycle]

i.             before
ii.            during
iii.           after

Commissioned by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Worlds Apart: Local Response Composition Commission 2007, based on the work of spiritual archeologist Jose Arguelles and his book The Mayan Factor.

Premieres: March 29, 30, and 31, 2007; consecutive performances of this new multi-movement work for six musicians three bass clarinets, one bass clarinet/shakuhachi, one tabla/percussion, and one Tuvan throat singing/false-opera vocalist.





Purchase Notation $45 

Another imaginal journey into beekeeping and the world of bees, this was revisiting the theme and mindset that started off my lengthy bass clarinet quartet composition path.  Written while living in Oakland.

I. Return to Bee Mountain
II. The Queen of Pollen Nation
III. Hive After Hive





Purchase Notation $40 

Edmund Welles in Berkeley 2010. L to R: Cornelius Boots, Jeff Anderle, Jonathan Russell, Aaron Novik.

Original Compositions for four bass clarinets (bass clarinet quartet): single movement songs.

featured on the album Tooth & Claw (2007)


Original version written for the rock trio magnesium



Purchase Notation $15 


Original version for the rock trio magnesium



Purchase Notation $15 


Original version for the rock trio magnesium



Purchase Notation $15 



Purchase Notation $15 





Purchase Notation $15 


Original version for the rock trio magnesium



Purchase Notation $15 




Purchase Notation $15 




Purchase Notation $15 



Purchase Notation $12



Purchase Notation $15 




Purchase Notation $15 




Purchase Notation $15 

featured on the album Imagination Lost (2011)



Purchase Notation $35 


“Moira” Editions





Purchase Notation $15 



Purchase Notation $20 



Purchase Notation $15 


Sheet Music for this piece is free, by audition only.

Send a video of your quartet playing a similar level piece to me through the Contact page and I will reply with either the score & parts, or other insights. Conditions of the exchange are: programs of performances and links to or raw files of audio and video of your performance of this piece, for posting on Edmund Welles and Cornelius Boots YouTube or other social media.

unreleased

Originally written for four baritone saxophones, this is also available arranged for four bass clarinets although it has rarely been performed.
Demo:

Originally written for the Rock Power Trio magnesium (listen to the album version here), this was arranged also for four bass clarinets and performed only in the early days of Edmund Welles’ existence in the Bay Area in 2003.
Demo:



Purchase Notation $15 

This was created direct to four-track and no complete notation currently exists for this piece.  It has never been performed.
Demo:

Originally written for the Rock Power Trio magnesium (listen to the album version here), this was arranged also for four bass clarinets and was rarely performed but formed part of the early originals catalog.
Demo:



Purchase Notation $15 

Arrangements (transcriptions) for four bass clarinets (bass clarinet quartet) (a.k.a. “cover songs”)

featured on the album Agrippa’s 3 Books (2005)

Original Album: Master of Reality (1971)
Original Composers: Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne
Original Genre: Heavy Metal

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 2002.



$25 

Original Album: Roots (1996)
Original Composers: Max Cavalera, Igor Cavalera, Andreas Kisser, Paulo Jr.
Original Genre: Heavy Metal

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 2003.



$25 

Original Album: This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Original Composers: Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, and Rob Reiner
Original Genre: Heavy Metal

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 2002.



$25 

featured on the album Imagination Lost (2011)

Original Album: Number of the Beast (1982)
Original Composer: Steve Harris
Original Genre: Heavy Metal

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 2009, performed by Edmund Welles with guest vocalist Gene Jun.



$35 

unreleased

Email me about Creep sheet music.

Original Album: Bossanova (1990)
Original Composer: Black Francis
Original Genre: Alternative Rock

Download the complete sheet music for this song for FREE!
Share these sounds.  Make a joyful weird noise.

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 1997.
Demo:

Original Album: Frizzle Fry (1990)
Original Composer: Les Claypool, Larry LaLonde, Tim Alexander
Original Genre: Primus

Download some of the sheet music for this song for FREE!
Share these sounds.  Make a joyful weird noise.

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 2004.
Demo:

Partial transcription/arrangement demo only.  No notation exists and it is incomplete, but one of my favorite pieces of Edmund Welles lore.  This song is one of the gems of the 20th century, buy the original on the album There’s a Riot Goin’ On.

Original Album: Strange Days (1967)
Original Composer: Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger
Original Genre: Classic Rock

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 2002.
Demo:



$20 

Original Album: The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
Original Composer: Sinéad O’Connor
Original Genre: Alternative Rock

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 2002.
Demo:



$20 

Original Album: Arena (1984)
Original Composer: Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor, James Bates
Original Genre: Pop Rock

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 2003.
Demo:



$20 

Original Album: Hell! (1986) or Mark of the Mole (1981/7)
Original Composer: The Residents and Cryptic Corporation
Original Genre: Experimental; Noise Rock

Email me if you want the complete sheet music for this song.

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 2003.
Demo:

Original Album:
Original Composer:
Original Genre: Alternative Rock

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 2001.
Demo:

Nirvana

Download the sheet music for this for FREE!

Demo:

Demo:


Purchase Danse Macabre sheet music HERE.

featured on the demo-album Gods Help Us All (1999)

Original Composer: Montana Taylor
Transcribed by: Eric Kriss
Original Genre: Boogie Woogie

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 1998.

Original Artist: Blind Willie Johnson
Original Genre: Gospel Blues

Transcribed and Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 1999.

Original Artist: The Swan Silvertones
Original Composer: Henry K. Bossard
Original Genre: Hard Gospel

Transcribed and Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 1998.

Original Artist: The Angelic Gospel Singers
Original Composer: Campbell
Original Genre: Hard Gospel

Transcribed and Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 1998.

Original Composer: Barrelhouse Buck
Transcribed by: Eric Kriss
Original Genre: Boogie Woogie

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 1998.

Original Composer: Romeo Nelson
Transcribed by: Eric Kriss
Original Genre: Boogie Woogie

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 1998.

Original Composer: Barrelhouse Welch
Transcribed by: Eric Kriss
Original Genre: Boogie Woogie

Arranged by Cornelius Boots in 1998.

featured on the demo-album O Mysterium (1999)

Original Composer: Tomas Luis de Victoria
Original Genre: Sacred Renaissance Vocal Motet

Original Composer: Josquin de Prez
Original Genre: Sacred Renaissance Vocal Motet

Original Composer: Girolamo Frescobaldi
Original Genre: Baroque Organ

Original Composer: Girolamo Frescobaldi
Original Genre: Baroque Organ

Original Composer: Erik Satie
Original Genre: Satie Piano Piece

Original Composer: Erik Satie
Original Genre: Satie Piano Piece

Original Composer: Erik Satie
Original Genre: Satie Piano Piece

Discography

Agrippa’s 3 Books
(2005)

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Tooth & Claw
(2007)

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Imagination Lost
(2011)

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Hymns for Christmas
(2012)

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O Mysterium
(1999)

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Gods Help Us All
(1999)

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Unreleased Masterworks
(2017)

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Live at Old First Church
October 6, 2006

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