Clarinet and Piano

SKU: ST.C129

Composed by Mark Tanner. Wind & brass music. Clifton Edition #C129. Published by Clifton Edition (ST.C129).

ISBN 9790570811298.

As I sit myself down to write this brief foreword, I ask myself can there be music more stirring than these old Cornish folk melodies? Though not Cornish myself (I confess to being born a little further up the road, in Bristol), I feel I have spent sufficient time in these 'ere parts to resonate with the sturdy brass band tradition that continues to permeate this incomparably beautiful, rugged county. One can almost detect a French 'accent' when listening to the piano music of Debussy, and likewise, speaking as a lapsed brass player, there is undoubtedly something of the Cornish twang about Trelawny when played on a cornet or euphonium. Then again, one gets a different, yet entirely convincing effect upon hearing these melodies rendered on woodwind instruments; hence, with a little gamesmanship on my part, I am pleased to see my collection of these fifteen delectable ditties come to fruition in the form of arrangements for treble clef brass instruments (in B flat and E flat), trombone and tuba (bass clef), horn in F, flute, clarinet and bassoon. While many will find themselves humming the likes of Going up Camborne Hill, Lamorna or The Helston Furry Dance even before they have turned to the first page - for these are indelibly intertwined with Cornish culture – I wonder if I might draw your attention to The Cornish Squire, The Pool of Pilate and Cold Blows the Wind Today Sweetheart, which are quite simply sublime melodies, perhaps needing that extra bit of help in bringing them to mind nowadays. In the best tradition of musical hand-me-downs, Cornish folk music works equally ideally sung and played, and only by doing so on a regular basis can such traditions hope to continue forward with vigour and authority. A legitimate way of achieving this is to revitalise the harmonic scheme of these ancient tunes and bring them up to date for a modern audience; after all, it was such an approach that fuelled the imagination of Benjamin Britten and Ralph Vaughan Williams in decades past, while skilfully paying homage to the underlying charm and, for want of a better word, simplicity, of the original music. But this is only a start – for without an energetic response from younger generations, Cornish folk music is destined to wither on the vine in much the same way as is happening with the Cornish dialect. So, put your instrument to your lips and proceed, not with caution, but with enthusiasm and a smile, for your great grandparents (and perhaps even their grandparents) would surely raise a glass if they could hear you doing your bit to ensure the survival of this splendid heritage.
Timeless Cornish melodies, cooked up for hungry clarinet players
Grades 1–4
Former Spartan Press Cat. No.: SP1218.

By Claude Debussy (1862-1918). Arranged by Jonathan Robbins. For Clarient solo and piano accompaniment. Set of parts

Clarinet and piano

SKU: BR.EB-32112

Urtext. Composed by Camillo Schumann. Solo instruments; stapled. Edition Breitkopf. The first edition of a forgotten treasure. Sonata; Late-romantic. Score. 52 pages. Breitkopf and Haertel #EB 32112. Published by Breitkopf and Haertel (BR.EB-32112).

ISBN 9790004186770. 9 x 12 inches.

There are many composers of whom it is said today that they had gone back in time or had composed against contemporary taste. Today, the question arises, though, as to what of value is to be extracted, rediscovered, or re-edited. Camillo Schumann (1872-1946) is one of these nearly forgotten composers. His works are still largely unknown today. Schumann's tonal language combines the Brahmsian sound scape with the grand late romantic Liszt school. His piano pieces range even to sounds reminiscent of Rachmaninoff and are of tremendous power and virtuosity. The pronounced and inventive melody makes the works the testimony of a composer who has not yet come to the fore. His two sonatas for clarinet and piano have hitherto remained completely unknown. This is astonishing, for they are on the level of the sonatas of Johannes Brahms, who probably contributed the most essentially to this genre. Surfacing as a special treasure from the estate of the Saxon musicologist and collector Harald Schurz were the autographs of both clarinet sonatas, now to be published for the first time. Remember falling in love with the expressive qualities of the Brahms sonatas? You can rekindle that feeling with these works by Camillo Schumann. Commentators have compared Schumann's works not only to Brahms, but also to Liszt and Rachmaninoff. Run to your shop and order now.(Gregory Barrett, The Clarinet)

The first edition of a forgotten treasure.

Clarinet and Piano

SKU: ST.H488

Composed by Christopher Maxim. Wind & brass music. Standard: Advanced. Score and part. Stainer & Bell Ltd. #H488. Published by Stainer & Bell Ltd. (ST.H488).

ISBN 9790220224560.

Though much to be feared, dragons by definition are rarely encountered, living at the furthest corners of the known world, or further even than that. As Bilbo Baggins discovered, to go in search of one can be an epic journey; and though Christopher Maxim, composer of the popular Toccata Nuptiale for organ, does not reveal whether Smaug, or Fafner, or the dragon slain by Saint George, is the particular beast in view, Here be Dragons! has the dramatic atmosphere of an adventure to remote and mythical places. Darkly chromatic roulades for clarinet, perhaps the creature's fiery breath, set the scene for an exciting duet on a gripping theme that stalks through the music in a variety of menacing variations, including a dragonish fugue. In the energetic arpeggios and trills that embellish the tune there is much for players of around Grade 8 standard to relish, in a showpiece that will undoubtedly lend enchantment to any concert.

The world premiere can be enjoyed on YouTube.

By Jean-Michel Maury. For Bb Clarinet Solo and Piano. Classical, Educational. Grade 5. Score and set of parts. 8 (score); 2 (parts). Published by FLEX Editions

Clarinet and piano

SKU: P2.30093

Composed by Maurice Saylor. Solo music, 20th century. Published by Potenza Music (P2.30093).

The titular confusion of this work came about in this way: the tunes first appeared in a 1991 musical I wrote based on Moliere's Le Malade Imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid). Lacking faith in the musical but liking the tunes, I fashioned a few of them into the symphony - a comic symphony. Yet, it seemed to lack luster. When the opportunity came to write a work for my friend and fellow Snark Ensemble performer Ben Redwine, I decided what the material lacked was a solo voice. The tunes are still there, but now greatly elaborated and expanded upon. The final work is still very much a symphony - and no other title seems to suit it - but symphonies are generally for orchestra. Still, the size and the instrumentation for the form we call symphony have varied greatly over the years, so perhaps it's the nature of the music that makes it a symphony and not the scoring.

Composed by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911). Edited by Andreas Ottensamer. Arranged by Ronald Kornfeil. The Clarinet Collection. Contemporary. Score and part(s). With Standard notation. 36 pages. Universal Edition #UE36431. Published by Universal Edition (PR.UE036431).