Klarinet Archive - Posting 000178.txt from 1994/02

From: Melanie Groundsell <vlsgrnsl@-----.UK>
Subj: Re: Clarinet Classics article in Fanfare
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 1994 08:46:18 -0500

On Mon, 14 Feb 1994, James Langdell wrote:

>
> The Jan/Feb 1994 issue of Fanfare (a classical music CD review magazine)
> has an article about a label called Clarinet Classics, a British
> recording company run by clarinettist Victoria Soames. The article
> includes an interview with Soames, who describes how she came to perform
> the first recording of Copland's Clarinet Sonata (his arrangement of
> an earlier violin sonata). The company that release her CD went under,
> she acquired the master tape, and wound up forming her own recording
> company to get it released successfully.
>
> This label has released performances by other clarinettists.
> Some discs are programmed around the repertoires of great
> 19th century clarinettists, such as Baermann and Hermstedt.
> There's also historical releases of early 20th century clarinettists,
> such as Draper and Hamelin.
>
> Has anyone heard any of these Clarinet Classics?
>
> --James Langdell jamesc@-----.com
> Sun Microsystems Mountain View, Calif.

I have two or three of these CDs. They are extremely good, both in
quality of recording and performance. I initially came across them
because I was looking for a recording of Milhaud's Sonatine, which is not
easily accessible on CD. The performance of the Sonatine lived up to all
my expectations. Also on the disc are some little known works by French
composers - either belonging to, or around the time of Les Six (or is it
Cinq?). One piece that you must hear is Tailleferre / Arabesque - I
couldn't wait to get my hands on the music so that I could play it! I can
also recommend the early clarinet works performed by Keith Puddy - a
selection played on original instruments, and including Handel, and lesser
known composers. I glanced at a review of a new issue from Clarinet
Classics in this month's (February) Gramaphone, but I can't remember what
the new recordings were. I don't know if they are available in other
countries yet - but if you can get hold of them, they're worth their
weight in gold.

Melanie
Reading University Library