Just A Thought - Sheet Music for clarinet in Bb and piano James Grant

A lyrical ballad that lingers in the moment — the clarinet sheet music for "Just A Thought" by James Grant is aimed at players with approximately four years of lessons or more. The wide range of nearly two octaves and the polyphonically voiced piano accompaniment demand genuine musical maturity.

Clarinet Sheet Music "Just A Thought" – A Tender Ballad for Clarinet & Piano

James Grant is among the most sought-after American composers working today — in 2002 he received the Aaron Copland Award. "Just A Thought" was composed in 2001 as the third of four pieces, commissioned by a consortium of 78 brass players from 30 US states and three countries. Grant himself describes it as a gentle, lyrical ballad — a thought that briefly flickers into being and then fades away. The work now exists in versions for many orchestral instruments and appears on recital programmes worldwide.

The clarinet part spans a range of just under two octaves — the notation is written in transposed pitch, as the clarinet in B♭ is a transposing instrument. The piece is in D minor and moves harmonically through several keys, lending an inner tension to its quietly flowing character. The short slurs call for a detached, detailed articulation — not a blanket legato, but a breathing, speech-like phrasing. The piano accompaniment provides the harmonic foundation without overshadowing the clarinet.

• Main challenge: several fast passages (runs / short note values), occasional large interval leaps
• Ideal for: recital, chamber concert, studio performance
• Tempo: 74 — quietly flowing

Runs will come together most quickly if you first practise them on the clarinet alone — without piano accompaniment — at a very slow tempo, then gradually increase the speed. Large interval leaps become more reliable when you hear the target pitch internally just before the fingering arrives. Dynamics are the true heart of this piece: think of crescendi and decrescendi not as volume effects, but as shapes of breath — once you feel the arc, the phrase almost forms itself. The piece wanders far harmonically from its home key; a well-developed inner ear will help you stay grounded throughout.

A fully browsable score preview of all 11 pages is available before purchase — no buying blind. A playback track with melody is also available to help you work on tempo and phrasing, and a short demo audio sample is free to listen to. The "Just A Thought" sheet music is available for immediate download after purchase. 100% licensed — ready to perform, legally, right away.

Editorially reviewed by the notendownload.com team