Search - Herbert Howells, Arnold Cooke, Elizabeth Maconchy :: Howells / Maconchy / Cooke / Frankel / Holbrooke: Clarinet Quintets - Thea King / Britten Quartet

Modern Clarinet Music

Alan Lekan | Boulder, CO | 02/15/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I suspect some considering this music have been previously inspired by the clarinet works of Mozart, Weber or Brahms - music rich in soaring, memorable melodies and wonderous, rhapsodic sonorities. On this CD, we have early 20th-century music from notable composers in England at that time: Howells, Cooke, Maconchy, Frankl and Holbrooke. Being into the 20th century, don't expect to find the charming melodies of Mozart or the soaring lyricism of Brahms here in these later English works.



As much as I am enthralled with the clarinet chamber music of the 18th/19th century, most of the English music of the 20th century here left me cold and uninspired. Certainly the goal was not to "warm the listener with beguiling melodies." The last celtic-inspired piece by Holbrooke in the pastoral tradition is perhaps the most memorable in its meandering lyricism. But, I think I could listen to the other compositions ten more times and still not recall their themes.



Perhaps there is a reason only a few composers like Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Ravel were called "Great" while everyone else was just an "ordinary" composer. I think one thing the Great ones did was to write music that was truly memorable in its emotional impact (whether joyful, sad, agitated) and ability to stir one's musical senses. As much as I have enjoyed Thea King in other works (Brahms), I did not connect with this English music for Quintet - or her English Music for Clarinet/Piano for that matter. However, listeners more attuned to modern compositions or English composers should find something attractive here, so best to leave things on the level of personal taste. As the English say, "just not my cup of tea."



In fairness to this recording, it should be noted the editors at Penguin Guide really liked this CD and gave it high marks (perhaps being British themselves was an influence as the composers, musicians and record label are all British as well). Also on the good side, the Hyperion sound quality is clear and bright."