James Marshall says: Music has filled my life with Joy.
It is good for the heart, mind and soul.
Jim is a composer, clarinetist and educator of music. In addition to composing concert music, he has written educational clarinet books for Mel Bay Music. Tone and Technique Studies for the Novice Clarinetist, Lyrical Solos from the British Isles … featuring the English Sonatina and Modern Etudes for Low Clarinets are available in print and E-book editions from Mel Bay Music and Amazon. American Song Collection was commissioned by William Bay, President of Mel Bay Music, Beautiful Music for Clarinet and Piano released in 2025, and Progressive Etudes for Clarinet will release in 2026. His concert music of recent years has turned away from dissonance, toward the heritage of music. Tonal, polytonal, quartal, folk and textural elements pervade with the influence in the “English” pieces. These pieces reflect the heritage of Vaughn Williams and Debussy. London Clarinetist Alison Eales premiered the English Sonatina for young clarinetists on a repertoire recital for adults and students displaying its suitability for both students and accomplished players. Several commissions followed including English Autumn premiered by the Gregynog Ensemble in October, 2019. London Concerto for Clarinet, Piano and String Orchestra was premiered October 15, 2022 at Church of St Peter and St Paul in Tringh outside London. There are two sonatas for clarinet, piano for Alison and Anna: Sonata Semplice (Simple Sonata) premiere September 3, 2023 in Tringh, UK. Pastoral Sonata premiere March 22, 2025 in St Albans. The Divertimento for Clarinet, Bassoon and Strings was premiered in London at City Lit on March 23 by Alison and Debbie Barnes.
A continued interest in textures has yielded new flute and low flute choir music. Island Sunrise for low flute choir was premiered by Deborah Rebeck Ash in Michigan in Fall, 2024. It was featured at the Florida Flute Convention
and will be presented at the NFA convention
in Atlanta on August 9.
In retirement, he has performed with the Richardson Community Band, Rockwall Philharmonic Orchestra
and Plano Clarinet Choir.
