Análisis e interpretación de la Sonata para clarinete y piano de Leonard Bernstein

Abstract

The present work embodies an in-depth musical and interpretive analysis of Leonard Bernstein's Sonata for clarinet and piano. It presents a biography of the composer and contextualizes the work within Bernstein's career, including his influences, both academic (Hindemith, Copland, etc.) and popular (jazz, blues, etc.). The methodology employed is described as follows: a review of primary sources (score, recordings, biography) and the levels of analysis (structural, motivic, and harmonic). The study of each of the movements reflects the influences and innovations both in the first movement, which is strongly neoclassical in its structure derived from classical sonata form, and in the second movement, which is more influenced by blues and jazz and has a more free-form structure. The third chapter is devoted to examining technical tensions: register jumps, high-pitched fingering, tuning control, and breath support. Each difficulty is accompanied by specific exercises, based on classical methods, to perfect articulation, breathing, and finger precision. Finally, practical solutions are proposed and the integration of technique and expressiveness is reflected upon, highlighting how Bernstein harmonizes structural rigor and rhythmic vitality. This work enriches the preformative option of one of the most iconic works for the clarinet and offers solid tools to solve and improve upon its most challenging technical passages.