Orfeo calms the Furies – Victoria Samek | Clarinets
A personal note from Victoria Samek
The seeds for Orfeo Calms the Furies originated over a coffee meeting I had with the distinguished composer Thea Musgrave with whom I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed a friendship over several decades. My first commission Threnody for clarinet and piano was commissioned to mark the untimely passing of my teacher and mentor Roger Fallows. Other works followed including Autumn Sonata, a bass clarinet concerto which I recorded under Thea’s direction with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
It was in a meeting with Thea that I raised the question of commissioning a piece for E flat clarinet. I had recently recorded Narcisus, originally scored for flute and digital delay which Thea had transcribed for clarinet. When Thea proposed the idea of transcribing Orfeo for E flat clarinet and dedicating this new version to me, I was deeply honoured and extremely excited.
The lockdown of Covid19 during 2020 and 2021 planted the seed of an idea to record a solo album. Exploring the current repertoire during this time of isolation and with Orfeo IV waiting to be recorded, the idea of expanding the resource of solo repertoire took hold. Enjoying a close collaboration and friendship with many composers, using my power of persuasion through the delicious range of clarinets they might choose, my requests were greeted with great generosity.
During my sixty years (at the time of writing!) I have been privileged as a player to enjoy inspirational associations with many composers, many of whom I have included on this album.
This fruitful relationship between composer and player can never be underestimated and was the driving force behind my launching Clarinet & Saxophone Classics Publications in 2017. All these works, with the exception of Orfeo IV by Thea Musgrave, are published by Clarinet & Saxophone Classics Publications now incorporated within Saxtet Publications, to which this album celebrates the launch of our new partnership.
With all the pieces receiving their world premiere, it is with great pleasure that I share with listeners and players Orfeo Calms the Furies.
- 1.–6. THEA MUSGRAVE Orfeo IV; an improvisation on a theme for
solo E flat clarinet and digital effects (1975, revised 2013) * - 7.–11. GRAHAM WILLIAMS Autumn Episodes
for Solo B flat clarinet (1981) - 12.–15. PAUL HARRIS Sonatina for solo B flat clarinet (2021)
- 15. ROB KEELEY Shine for E flat clarinet (2021)
- 17–18. RICHARD RALPH Two Studies on Twelve Tone for B flat clarinet (2024)
- 19. GEORGE SHRAPNELL Tombeau (After Bach) for solo B flat clarinet (2022)
- 20.–23. PAUL HARRIS Sonatina for solo E flat Clarinet (2023)
- 24. BENJAMIN FINGERHUT Monody for solo B flat clarinet (2023)
- 25.–28. PAUL HARRIS Sonatina for solo Bass Clarinet (2023)
- 29.–31. ROB HOWAT New Cross Counterpoint
for nine multitracked clarinets (2017, revised in 2022) *
* Also available on streaming platforms in surround sound
Victoria Samek is recognised as an outstanding clarinettist and champion of contemporary music…. The Clarinet
Total Time: 78.50
