Opus 111

OPUS 111 for Clarinet, Violoncello & Piano is a two movement composition written in July 1998. It was timed to coincide with 50th birthday of the composer and regarded as his musical self-portrait. A short slow introduction, based on sounds corresponding to the letters of the composer's name, is followed by a fast movement, which presents a brief history of his life, where three instruments quote the initial fragments of the themes of all his major works, mixing them into one polyphonic parti-coloured fabric. The citations from the works written in England are accompanied by the British National Anthem. After 110 opuses are quoted the clarinet and cello play the music of Smirnov's very first piece, written in 1963. The work ends with a slow mysterious chime of bells. Total duration is approx. 8-9 minutes. The composition was first performed by the "Meladina Ensemble" on 7th of November, 1998 in the church of St. Cyprian in London. The piece also was played in Germany and USA.