Pierrot Dreaming: Chamber Music for Clarinet by Thea Musgrav

La Scala Virtuoso

One of Australia's leading saxophonists, Michael Duke presents his debut CD on the Saxophone Classics Label. Drawing specifically from the canon of music for two saxophones this collection showcases the flexibility of tone and diversity of colour of the instrument across a breadth of musical styles. o The Gershwin-esque opening of Cockcroft's Slap Me gives way to a bluesy, jazz inspired work full of energy and excitement. o The virtuosic and often humorous French writing that so influenced the music of the saxophone is represented in Dubois' impressive Six Caprices. o We hear the recreation of an imaginary "Middle Age" world in Lauba's Ars with music that brings forth the sounds of the medieval shawm. o Internationally acclaimed composer Samuel Adler's captivating work Two Contrasting Inventions appears here in its world premiere recording. o Along with the Dubois are two other "standards" in the saxophone repertoire in Paul Hindemith's Konzertstuck and John David Lamb's Six Barefoot Dances, both of which showcase the lyricism and vibrancy of the instrument. o Other works by Stockhausen, Maderna, Galante, Stanhope and Kay show the immense diversity and possibilities of such an instrumental combination.

Run, Sing, Fly

ALCHEMY presents a curated selection of new music that could not be possibly performed on any other combination of instruments. Clarinet & Saxophone Classics is excited to release this significant release for 2022 their 30th anniversary year, showcasing world premiere recordings of the best new music for saxophone and piano. Described as “extremely sensitive dynamically, with a beautiful sound” by renowned British conductor Timothy Reynish, Joshua Heaney is an award-winning concert saxophonist seeking novel expression, storytelling, and human connection through contemporary music. Joshua has collaborated with, commissioned, and premiered over 40 works by distinguished and emerging composers. Composer and pianist Benjamin T. Nylander draws inspiration from a background in traditional western performance and a variety of art forms including film, literature, theatre, and visual art. In his work, Nylander frequently embraces themes of a deep reverence of nature and human connection. He works toward an art form that transcends ideas of innovation and consumerism and strives for vitality and truth above all.

French Clarinet Exports

Flying Solo

Mozart created the medium of the Clarinet Quintet K581 by means of a process that involved a number of preliminary experimental fragments, all of which can also be heard on this disc. Like the Clarinet Concerto, the Quintet K581 was intended for Stadler's basset clarinet in A, which was furnished with an additional four semitones at the bottom of the compass. Colin Lawson's boxwood basset clarinet (modelled on Viennese instruments of the period) was especially created for him in 1988 by the Cambridge maker Daniel Bangham. For the Allegro in F K580b he plays the more brilliant clarinet in C and is joined by Michael Harris (basset horn). The Allegro K516c features the extremely rare Bb basset clarinet used elsewhere by Mozart only in the virtuoso obbligato to 'Parto, parto' from La Clemenza di Tito. Colin Lawson, described by BBC Music Magazine as 'the doyen of period clarinettists' explores Mozart's original sound world in partnership with his colleagues from The Revolutionary Drawing Room. Performance of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet on a specially recreated basset clarinet in A o Disc includes all associated Mozart fragments including the rarely heard 8-bar Andante Rondo o World première recording of Rondo K581a in the completion by Robert Levin o Sound world illustrates the beauty of period strings in association with Viennese-style clarinets in C, Bb and A o Sheds new light on Mozart's association with his clarinettist friend Anton Stadler, who died 200 years ago.

The Inner Time - Contemporary Music for Clarinet

INCANDESCENCE • HD Duo; 1 Alexa Still (fl); 2 Anna Duke (a sax) • SAXOPHONE 4002 (79:56)


HIGDON 1 Dash. 2 Lullaby. DECRÜCK Piéces Françaises. Dances autour du monde. GARROP Fragmented Spirit. ABBOTT UndercurrenT. GOTKOVSKY Incandescence


HD Duo is the Sydney-based ensemble of Michael Duke, saxophone, and David Howie, piano. Both are natives of Australia, studied at home and abroad, took positions respectively in the U.S. and Great Britain, and then returned to take faculty positions at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where this program was recorded. They have performed together since 2008, in Australia and throughout the world, and have made a specialty of new works by Australian composers. The duo’s first CD, Australian Portrait (Cala), explores that repertoire. This second CD has a different focus: music for saxophone by female composers.


There are several premiere recordings, so for saxophone aficionados this could be an excellent opportunity to hear works not otherwise available, at least in this form. Not surprisingly, the pieces all date from the last 70 years. The earliest are by French composer Fernande Decrück, who wrote extensively for the saxophone and whose music is flavored by her admiration for Debussy and Ravel. She is represented here by two of three works which she wrote in a remarkable final burst of creativity in 1943: Pièces françaises and Danses autour du monde , both for alto saxophone. These were dedicated to colleague Marcel Mule, as was the third, her better known Sonata in C?. Ida Gotkovsky is another French composer with a significant catalog of compositions for saxophone. Incandescence (2011) often seems improvisatory, though it is not. Her first work for tenor saxophone, it is, despite its name, rather muted compared to her well-known Brilliance and less captivating than the ingenious saxophone quartet. Still, this is a premiere recording by a major composer that deserves to be heard.


American composer Stacy Garrop’s Fragmented Spirit (1998) for alto saxophone and piano is a remarkably literal rendering of a poem, included in the notes, into an eclectic score that offers an atmospheric opening, loud clashes, snatches of liturgical chant, a scream, and an apparent final resolution. In fact, the dramatic arch of the music is effectively drawn, rather more so than it is in Australian composer Katy Abbott’s UndercurrenT (2011), a commission by the HD Duo for soprano saxophone and piano which purports to render the adage “still waters run deep,” Actually there is something rather lightweight about the work, and rather obvious, but it and the Garrop are well crafted, and each in its own way attractive and interesting to hear.


The program starts and ends with contrasting works by celebrated composer Jennifer Higdon: the hyperkinetic showpiece Dash (2001), and Lullaby (1990), a gentle, sweet-tuned piece for alto saxophone duo that conceals some surprising harmonic intricacy. Scored for several combinations of instruments, Dash was originally written for the Verdehr Trio—violin, clarinet, and piano—which has recorded it. So has the Verismo Trio (Albany), in this configuration for flute, soprano saxophone, and piano, and in fact, with far greater precision and better balance than we hear in this recital.


Precision is, in fact, the biggest difficulty that one notes in this release. Slower music, especially the more Impressionistic or atmospheric offerings, are nicely performed. Swifter music, of which there is more than a little, especially that which requires tight coordination between soloist and accompanist, is not rendered exactly by the soloist. In addition, Duke’s wide vibrato can occasionally create ambiguity of pitch, though it is certainly not his fault when Anna Duke hangs under pitch in the Higdon Lullaby . Howie is the more accurate rhythmically, and is a superb accompanist, though because of instrument or recording or touch, he occasionally can be strident where one might wish more beauty of tone. Balance between Duke and Howie generally over-favors the saxophonist, and in Dash , flutist Alexa Still is hard pressed to be heard at times. (I, in any case, prefer the clarinet with flute option, a combination which balances more easily.) It is regrettable, and if my primary interest was Dash , I’d look elsewhere. I am still, however, holding onto—and recommending—this recording, for the stylishly done French works in particular.


FANFARE: Ronald E. Grames

A Mozart Soirée

Following their highly successful previous disc - The Bel Canto Clarinettist, CC0014, this distinguished duo goes from strength to strength with their latest CD recorded specially for Clarinet Classics. This important disc features works written for the great players of the Victorian Clarinet Tradition. Most important of these were Henry Lazarus and his pupil Charles Draper who continued the tradition into the twentieth century. A further thread connects the tradition to the present day : Colin Bradbury was a pupil of Frederick Thurston, who was himself a pupil of Draper. o Edward German's delightful Romance o Ebenezer Prout's neglected Sonata o Two songs with clarinet obbligato by Sir George Macfarren, featuring the soprano, Elaine Barry A collection of little known but delightful and rewarding music written for the eminent clarinettists of the day, and performed here by one of the most eminent clarinettists of our own day. Press Quote 'Bradbury and Davies .... keen and sympathetic advocates.' GRAMOPHONE

These stunning arrangements made by Chika Inoue and Scott Morris include Schubert’s epic Arpeggione Sonata and the much beloved Ave Maria. This beautifully recorded album will give listeners a rare treat to enjoy a classical recital of Mozart and Schubert performed on the alto saxophone and guitar. Great care has been taken to ensure that the quintessential delicacy of these works have been captured and even enhanced by this unique instrumentation. Chika Inoue and Scott Morris have been performing together since 2016. As an incredibly successful duo in high demand, they tour extensively in the US and Europe with upcoming dates scheduled for Los Angeles, New York City, Europe and Asia. Some 2019 season highlights include the Festival de la guitarra in Granada, Spain, the NAMM Show, ICYOLA (Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles), and the NASA (North American Saxophone Alliance) conference in Tucson, AZ. The record was produced by Niko Bolas (Neil Young, Melissa Etheridge, David Crosby, LeAnn Rimes, and Warren Zevon) and recorded by Chandler Harrod and 22-time GRAMMY winner Al Schmitt with additional contributions from Steve Perry. Both master arrangers, Chika & Scott perform their own arrangements which successfully capture the composer’s intent while also taking full advantage of the unique sound of classical saxophone and guitar. Performed with intense delicacy, this is a musical feast for the listener.

In his second CD for Clarinet Classics, the distinguished French clarinettist Philippe Cuper plays music by three French composers. The main work is the Concerto da Camera Op.61 by Nicolas Bacri which was written for Philippe Cuper. This recording was taken from the first public performance given Ostend, Belgeium in the presence of the composer. Also by Bacri - Im Volkston Op.43 ,the Divertimento Op37b and Adams Dances from American Letters Op35. Also included on this fascinating disc of little known but intriging are Disco toccata by Guillaume Connesson and Trio by Anthony Girard. This CD brings together music by the Alternative Paris School of Composers who offer a contrast to the more avant garde style represented by Boulez and returns to a more lyrical language. An important new release by the rising stars of French contemporary music, played by the works dedicatee and fellow Parisian.

Conceived by British performers Peter Furniss and David Leiher Jones, presenting music of the last 60 years for clarinet and piano, this collection provides a rich anthology in which an intriguing musical lineage is celebrated. o Leonard Bernstein Sonata (1942) This early work is superbly written and shows a clearly developed compositional voice. Influenced by Bernstein's teacher Hindemith, this piece contains many elements of Bernstein's later works, including a brilliant jazz-inspired finale. o Robert Muczynski Time Pieces (1985) These robust, lyrical and virtuosic pieces have become popular with clarinettists all over the world in a short time. o Michael Kaulkin American Standard (1993) WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING This attractive one movement work written for Peter Furniss won Honorable Mention at the 1994 New Music Delaware Festival. o Richard Dudas Sonata (2004) WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING Completed in 2004 and commissioned by the performers, this substantial duo is a deeply lyrical work, combining moments of great depth and tenderness with a brilliantly crafted finale. o James Cohn Sonatina Op 56 (1981) This is a delightful three-movement character piece with plenty of charm, wit and considerable bravura. o Victor Babin Hillandale Waltzes - 8 Waltz Movements Composed on a Theme by Johann Hummel (1942)A brilliant and popular set of highly contrasted stylistic variations on a classical dance tune. Clarinet Classics is delighted to present this new release of recent repertoire, which is bold brilliant and beguiling in its sweep. This CD is broad in appeal and uncompromising in its musical quality.