The 'Time Pieces' for Clarinet and Piano were composed by Robert Muczynski, Professor of Composition and Composer-in-Residence at the University of Arizona, Tucson. He is firmly established as one of the major contributors to the solo piano repertory, and drew critical acclaim when the New York Times wrote ".... The most impressive piano music by an American since Barber."
             The 'Time Pieces' were written for a good friend of Muczynski's, for world famous clarinettist Mitchell Lurie. Together, they premiered this work at the Clarinet Congress of the International Clarinet Society in London.
             1st Movement: Marked Allegro Risoluto (Lively and Determined), this movement starts of with the introduction of two rhythmic motifs, one involving a strongly accented first beat and an accented off beat on the second beat. This is developed throughout the whole piece, giving it a rhythmically exciting edge. The second motif is a series of 6 semiquavers in the clarinet part, the first of which is accented, and the last two slurred. This is left wide open for the performer's interpretation on whether or not to accent the 4th or 5th semiquavers, or both. These two motifs are shown below.
             The dynamic of this opening section is generally marked forte, which reflects the marking of Risoluto. It is difficult to determine which key this movement is in, because of the vastly changing amount of flat and sharps, although it is evident that the base note is mostly C, and the melodies generally revolve around this factor.
             After the Caesura (tram-tracks) at the end of bar 23, a new theme, more lyrical and smooth than the first vigorous theme, is introduced. It is developed somewhat, including an intelligently introduced fugue like figure in bar 39, which intertwines the clarinet and piano parts together.
             After this passage, and immediately before it, a short development of first theme (the six semiquavers), p...