100 Years of the Simple-System Clarinet
Colin Lawson (clarinet), Francis Pott (piano)
In this valuable collection of music from the 19th and early 20th centuries, Colin Lawson surveys the music written for the simple-system clarinet. From the 1850s right through to 1950, this was a favourite instrument in England and coincided with the English musical renaissance. With the clarinet as an instrument flourishing inspiring composers to write for the instruments, this was an immensely rich compositional period for the clarinet.
This album presents the opportunity to hear one of the world’s leading period clarinet performers playing a now unfamiliar clarinet in unusual repertory, that has become unjustly neglected. Combined with a full and informative booklet written by Colin Lawson, ensures these works can be enjoyed listeners and included by players in future recital programmes.
* recorded for the first time and as such are world premieres.
- Joseph Williams – Pensees Fugitives *
- Charles Oberthur – Sweet Dreams, Op. 300 *
- Arthur Somervell – Romance, Op. 4 *
- Joseph Williams – Pensees Fugitives
- Charles Hartford Lloyd – Duo Concertante *
- Edward German – Pastorale & Bouree *
- Richard Walthew – Four Meditations *
- Alfred Pratt – Souvenir D’lspahan *
- Joseph Holbrooke – Nocturne, Op. 55, No. 1 *
- Ralph Greaves – Idyll *
- William Lovelock – Romance & Waltz *
- Adam Carse – Happy Tune *
- C.R. Yuille-Smith – Gavotte *
- Thomas Dunhill – Phantasy Suite, Op. 91 *
The performances are fluent, idiomatic, well moulded, and cleanly articulated. Colin Lawson’s robust tone is supported by sturdy and assured accompaniments, and Lawson and Pott cast an undeniable spell of beauty and sensitivity that falls easily on the ear. Serious students of the clarinet should explore this long-lost repertoire, for profundity aside, there is always room for beauty and simplicity on a recital program. Fanfare 2005
Playing Time: 79 mins.
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