 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Plonk
Date: 2010-09-22 20:02
I've been listening to a recording of this today for the first time.
Who is James Hook, in clarinet terms? The only info I could find on him was on Wikipedia, which simply says
"Concerti:
Works for the clarinet, organ, fortepiano, etc." regarding this piece!
Does anyone know when this was written, how it was received, anything about its history or can share any program notes?
Thanks in advance!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2010-09-22 21:15
There's a reasonable length listing in Grove's on James Hook, but the only data on the clarinet concerto from Grove's is:
No op. # - Concerto, Eb, cl, orch, 1812, Tokyo, Nanki Ongaku Bunko
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Author: howarth
Date: 2010-09-28 12:11
From the ICA website:
This concerto is available in two modern published editions, and has recently been recorded on a period clarinet by Colin Lawson. This is the first clarinet work by an English composer that can be placed chronologically in the nineteenth century.
We don't know for whom this concerto was written, nor do we know the occasion; but we can make some educated guesses about these things. Hook was a prominent figure in London's musical life. He was employed for nearly fifty years (from 1774 to 1820) as organist, composer, and music director at Vauxhall Gardens - one of the so-called "pleasure gardens" to which Londoners went for entertainments in the summer. At Vauxhall, on a warm summer evening, visitors could stroll beneath thousands of lamps that illuminated the gardens; while they dined al fresco, they would enjoy a concert of orchestral music that usually lasted for about three hours and included both vocal and instrumental works. Documentation about the programming and personnel for these concerts is slim, since actual programs are extant for only a couple of seasons in the 1790s. These inform us, however, that in addition to overtures, symphonies, and vocal music, there were at least two concertos performed at each concert. One was inevitably an organ concerto, performed by Hook himself, while the other was performed by either a guest soloist or a member of the band. We know that the band employed clarinetists, and the early programs chronicle performances of wind concertos, including some for the clarinet. So perhaps Hook's 1812 concerto was written to be played at Vauxhall. Who might have been the performer? We can only guess, but it is likely that it would have been an English player, since it seems that Hook was a great promoter of English composers and performers.
Circumstantial evidence seems to favor Edward Hopkins as the likeliest candidate. In 1812 he was in the prime of his career, and the fact that he was later appointed music director at Vauxhall suggests that he had a prior association with that institution. As for the other possible performers: little is known about James Oliver or George Hopkins; both John and William Mahon were in their 60s in 1812, and cutting back on their engagements; and Willman can be discounted because he lived in Ireland between 1790 and 1816. Of course it is possible that the performer of Hook's concerto was a foreigner, or an English player whose name has simply not yet come to light. Given the available evidence, however, my vote goes to Edward Hopkins.
Howarth of London
31-35 Chiltern Street
London
W1U 7PN
clarinet@howarth.uk.com
www.howarth.uk.com
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