Written in 1901 for the Paris Conservatoire contest, Solo de Concours, Op. 10 for Clarinet by Henri Rabaud is a piece that has become very popular since its composition. Used five additional times for the contest, this piece was written for advanced clarinettists. Featuring three main parts, its cadenza is one of the most difficult parts of the piece and will require some strong technique and some patience to be played smoothly. Henri Rabaud (1873-1949) is a French conductor and composer and was director at the Paris Conservatoire. He composed many famous pieces, including this Solo de Concours, Op. 10 but also a cantata ‘Daphn’ which won the Grand Prix de Rome, some operas (‘Mrouf, savetier du Caire Op. 14’, ‘Lappel de la mer’), and some chamber music (‘Andante et Scherzo for flute, violin and piano Op. 8’)