Lloyd Rodgers, self-described as “once known as a clarinetist,” taught theory and composition at Cal State Fullerton. 
A New Ground was commissioned by legendary clarinetist Kalman Bloch (1913-2009) in 1985 and premiered at Little Bridges Hall at Pomona College in Claremont, California. 
The title "A New Ground" is a reference to Baroque composer Henry Purcell’s  harpsichord piece of that name; rather than being a programmatic title, it is simply descriptive of the type of piece: “ground” is an antiquated term for chaconne, a musical form in which a short, repeating harmonic progression serves as the “ground,” or outline, for variations. 
In this piece, the violin introduces the ground, and then the clarinet joins in. Typical of the Baroque influence, the piece is ornamented and light in touch on the violin, and a similar approach on the clarinet.

Tonight’s performance of A New Ground represents the special student-teacher-lineage in the small musical world.
Kalman Bloch taught at Cal State Fullerton down the hallway from Lloyd Rodgers for many years; Alice Gallagher studied with his daughter (and co-prinicpal of the LA Phil) Michele Zukovsky, and recently, theory with Lloyd Rodgers

Lloyd Rodgers, A New Ground, Alice Gallagher, cl, Mira Khomik, vln CSUF, 2011 May

Just uncovered! A Juilliard undergraduate recording that is very much worth a listen. Enjoy. More information on the recording and current work of musicians available upon request.

aebgallagher

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