A Portrait of Alan Hacker

Alan Hacker was a powerful force and inspired many notable composers to write for him including Peter Maxwell Davies and Harrison Birtwistle. With his tremendous prowess and fearless exponent of extended techniques, it could be argued that Alan Hacker single-headedly pushed the boundaries of the clarinet’s capabilities. This in turn revolutionised not only how composers wrote for the different clarinets, but that the clarinet became the favoured instrument, as composers were inspired by its possibilities, including Peter Maxwell Davies, who dedicated many of his pieces to Alan Hacker.

In total contrast, Alan Hacker was one of the earliest clarinet players to join the period instrument movement. It was in concerts with the Fires of London under composer and director Peter Maxwell Davies, that Alan Hacker could often be heard with his distinctive sound performing arrangements of music from the 13th century.  

This tremendous collection of recordings reflects his incredible output that defined Alan Hacker as one of the most important, versatile and influential clarinettists of the 20th century, whose impact on composers, audiences and players continues.

• Anon/ Alan Hacker  First Delphic Hymn 138 BC;
• Harrison Birtwistle Four Interludes for a Tragedy for basset clarinet and tape,
• Harrison Birtwistle Four Nocturnes and an Aubade (private recording issues for the first time)
• Bernhard Crusell Quartet No. 2 in C minor op. 4 (first edition);
• Steve Beresford Avril Brisé;
• Carl Maria von Weber A Grand Duo
• Maxwell Davies’ – Hymnos – a tour-de-force in a ground breaking performance by its dedicatee.
• Maxwell Davies’ – Seven Brightnesses
• Anon / Maxwell Davies Scottish Renaissance

Alan Hacker Bb and C clarinets basset-clarinet in A, Goulding clarinet of c.1800 (Weber and Crusell);  Stephen Pruslin piano with Members of The Music Party; plus Roland Heuer and Ikuko Nishida violins; Axel Breauch viola; Jan Pas violincello

‘A clarinet player and teacher who influenced a generation of players and composers; this CD is a tribute to his masterful playing with most of the works written or dedicated to Hacker. A must for all collectors of clarinet CDs.’

‘Clarinettist, teacher and conductor who overcame the constraints of a wheelchair to make music of thrilling and uncompromising beauty’.
THE TIMES

 

Artist – Alan Hacker

Download Free CD Booklet

Playing Time: 79 mins.

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