Notes and Editorial Reviews
EXPRESSIONS
•
Leslie Craven (cl); Rachel Attwell (pn
1
); Katherine Thomas (hp
2
); Jonathan Burgess (fl
3
); Tom Jackson (cl
4
)
•
CLARINET 0059 (79:55)
BIMBI
1
El Casot.
1,3
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class="ARIAL12bi">Lluna.
HEXEL
1
Sonatina Lyrico.
BALL
Invocations of Pan.
4
Music for Youth.
1,2
Folk song arrangements.
SCHOCKER
1
A Better Day.
WAKEFIELD
1
Hauntings.
JACKSON
Sonata for Clarinet Alone.
THOMAS/CRAVEN (arr.)
2
Huna Blentyn
This is an eclectic and thoroughly enjoyable collection of short pieces featuring clarinet. The description on the cover of the inlay booklet promises “a virtuoso showcase of melodic, lyrical, expressive works,” though only a few of the tracks can reasonably be considered “virtuoso.” Leslie Craven (b. 1953) is principal clarinetist in the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera.
I reviewed a previous disc of Christopher Ball’s music in
Fanfare
33: 3 and interviewed him in 33:5, so I will restrict biographical details here to stating that composition has seriously occupied this English composer for only the past 15 years or so of his 74 years; that his music is staunchly traditional in style—good news for listeners in search of good “new” music that doesn’t sound particularly new—and that the clarinet has been the principal instrument throughout his career, his having studied with Jack Brymer, Reginald Kell, and Gervase de Peyer.
Ball’s
Music for Youth
consists of four short clarinet duets apparently intended for younger players, though I’m sure clarinetists of all ages will want to play them. The tunes are so catchy they’re guaranteed to have you humming them for weeks on end. The four folk song arrangements already have melody built into them and are well served in Ball’s versions for clarinet and harp (three) or piano (one). I am less taken with
Invocations of Pan
for unaccompanied clarinet. According to the composer, the music “is meant to evoke both serene and exuberant aspects of the famous woodland god,” though I fail to make the connection; nor is this one of Ball’s better works.
The program opens with an exuberant, flamenco- and klezmer-inspired number called
El Casot
by the French-born Daniel Bimbi, full of wail and zing. (El Casot is the name of a little house set among the vineyards of Girona, Spain.) At the other end of the program is another work by Bimbi, the pastoral
Lluna
for the felicitous combination of clarinet, flute, and piano. Lyricism is indeed the featured quality in the
Sonatina lyrico
by the German-born Vasco Hexel. Its slow movement is ravishingly beautiful while the third has a wonderfully breezy, outdoorsy feeling. From American Gary Schocker comes a six-minute number called
A Better Day.
The first of its two contrasting sections gently caresses the ears and has all the qualities needed to soothe savage beasts and breasts. Then it springs to life and scampers merrily on its way. According to the program notes, Anthony Wakefield’s
Hauntings
is intended to be ghoulish but comes off more as playful and capricious, which diminishes its attractiveness not one whit. Tom Jackson, only recently out of school, contributes a Sonata for Clarinet Alone consisting of three tiny movements of what sounds like free improv—mildly interesting but no more.
Craven’s sound is somewhat on the bright, even dry side, but his playing is immensely musical, which is far more important. You won’t need to be a clarinetist to derive a good deal of satisfaction from this program. All works have been recorded for the first time. Brief but useful program notes from Craven, a generous 80-minute program, and a vivid acoustic environment add further luster to this release. Recommended to all.
FANFARE: Robert Markow
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Works on This Recording
1.
El Casot by Daniel Bimbi
Performer:
Rachel Attwell (Piano),
Leslie Craven (Clarinet)
Period: 20th Century
2.
Lluna by Daniel Bimbi
Performer:
Leslie Craven (Clarinet),
Jonathan Burgess (Flute),
Rachel Attwell (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
3.
Sonatina Lyrico for Clarinet and Piano by Vasco Hexel
Performer:
Leslie Craven (Clarinet),
Rachel Attwell (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
4.
A Better Day by Gary Schocker
Performer:
Rachel Attwell (Piano),
Leslie Craven (Clarinet)
Period: 20th Century
5.
Hauntings by Anthony Wakefield
Performer:
Rachel Attwell (Piano),
Leslie Craven (Clarinet)
Period: 20th Century
6.
Invocations of Pan by Christopher Ball
Performer:
Leslie Craven (Clarinet)
Period: 20th Century
7.
Music for Youth by Christopher Ball
Performer:
Leslie Craven (Clarinet),
Tom Jackson (Clarinet)
Period: 20th Century
8.
Folksong Arrangements by Christopher Ball
Performer:
Leslie Craven (Clarinet),
Rachel Attwell (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
9.
Huna Blentyn by Anonymous
Performer:
Tom Jackson (Clarinet),
Katherine Thomas (Harp)
Period: 20th Century
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