“A Gentle Notion” represents the past, present, and future of American music for clarinet and piano and strives to revitalize the sound of classical music recordings. The album is anchored by Sonatas of Aaron Copland, Jennifer Higdon, and Pierre Jalbert, and capped by music of Joan Tower and the world premiere recording of Higdon’s A Gentle Notion. The Copland is the “golden oldie” of the set and its influence is felt throughout. The Sonata’s harmonic language, rhythmic interplay, and orchestration is the point of departure for the other music on the album and itself stands as a totem of the American style.