Search - Piazzolla, Schoen, Ardan :: Clarinet Hive: Works for Clarinet

Great buzz for this "hive"!

Daniel R. Coombs | Mesa, AZ United States | 07/26/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a clarinetist who specializes in somewhat obscure and contemporary repertoire - and proud of it! So when I obtained a copy of the new Naxos release "Clarinet Hive" (8.572264), I was in anticipation of hearing great performances of new works! This disc does not disappoint! First, the performers are quite the all star collection of players, starting with those I was familiar with - Ricardo Morales, certainly one of the finest symphony players in the country and new music specialists, Timothy Paradise and Evan Ziporyn. The other players, Theodore Schoen, Laura Ardan and James Ognibene, are also first rate performers with great tone and terrific technique. The music, as I had hoped, is the real star of this disc. Each piece is its own revelation. I knew the Piazzola "Histoire du Tango" in its string quartet creation but had not heard the clarinet quartet version. This wonderful piece depicts a "history" of the tango through its artistic development in five movements. It is great fun to listen to and - I suspect - to play. John Harbison has written a lot for clarinet. The "Trio Sonata" for two clarinets and bass clarinet is written in four short movements which, according to the composer, refer to "oblique Baroque types". Syncopated in many parts, this makes for another great piece to listen to and to perform. The Schuller "Duo Sonata" for clarinet and bass clarinet is quite a bit different but another great piece. The parts are very virtuostic and owe a bit to Schoenberg. It is especially interesting to listen to the lateral movement between the instruments. The second, in particular, is intriguing for its resemblance to the Poulenc "Sonata" for two clarinets. Thomas Barker is a brand new name to me and his "Single Six" and new and fascinating experience. Written for solo bass clarinet, the title refers to a "hexachord" upon which the piece is built. This piece is complex, virtuostic and intricately structured. According to booklet notes, Barker died all too young - 34 and kudos to Theodore Schoen for having this piece written as well as for his stand up amazing performance! Vincent Persichetti, one of the big names in American composition, wrote fifteen "Serenades" for a variety of instrumental combinations including full orchestra; each intended as a "love" piece, nocturnal in mood, according to the composer. The "Serenade #13 for two clarinets is comprised of seven movements, each bearing some rhythmic and motivic elements in common; a very attractive piece. Lastly - and maybe the most interesting piece on the disc - is "Hive" by composer/clarinetist Evan Ziporyn. Written for two soprano clarinets and two bass clarinets, the work takes its title from the composer's experiences as a bee keeper. The music revolves around an oscillation between pitches A and C which Ziporyn says matches the pitch of bees buzzing when they are "docile" (A) and when agitated (C). This third creates "flight patterns" - low, high, fast, slow, loud, soft and is a very creative and welcome addition to the quartet repertory. This entire disc should be of high interest to clarinetists as well as to any contemporary chamber music enthusiasts. The disc is well recorded with a real stereo "presence" and the performances are magnificent!"