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Clarinet Music on vinyl or CDs

I got back into playing clarinet again after a long break. I try to practice when I have free time(unfortunately not that much).

Of course with this I have renewed my interest in clarinet music as well.

Trying to buy some clarinet recordings and discover the selection especially at the stores, is pretty poor.

So far I purchased:
Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K622 and Clarinet Quintet in A, K581 with Stoltzman;

French Works for Clarinet and piano(Saint-Saens, Devienne, Milhaud and Poulenc Sonatas) with Sabine Meyer,

The Essential Clarinet(Stravinsky Ebony Concerto, Corigliano Clarinet Concerto, Copland Clarinet Concerto) with Stoltzman.

I like Sabine Meyer's sound better than most of the Stoltzman's stuff(too much vibrato in his playing). Also, I highly recommend this cd I mentioned above. It is excellent as far as music and her playing is outstanding.

What would you recommend as good clarinet recordings? Vinyl or CD.

Looking for interesting suggestions to buy more music.

Chamber, solo, anything that may grab my attention.

As far as classical, I listen to anything from Mozart to Shostakovich.

Thanks in advance!
128x128audphile1
rubinken's avatar
rubinken
102 posts
 
As a clarinetist myself I urge you to check out a creative soul from Italy, Gianluigi Trovesi.

Trovesi is trained classically but breaks jazz boundaries. His entire repertoire is excellent. For intriguing music and superb sound I unhesitantly recommend my favorite, a CD called Round About a Midsummer's Dream, on the Enja label. It has fine music & musicians, including the superb Renaud Garcia-Fons on bass.
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
5,290 posts
 
Rubinken, thanks!
newbee
4,768 posts
 
You didn't indicate an interest in jazz, but should that interest you Ken Peplowski and his quartet have a bunch of recordings of laid back jazz on Concord Jazz. A couple that I enjoy are "It's a Lonsome Old Town" and includes Charlie Byrd, Marian McPartland, and Tom Harrell, and "The Natural Touch". There are quite a few others if his music stimulates an interest. Very good recording quality, BTW.
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
5,290 posts
 
Newbee thanks. I will investigate this. I am open to suggestions in jazz as well, although if it is jazz I am buying, I try to buy modern, more avantgarde jazz
I am currently taking a break from traditional and bee-bop.
:)

Anyway, I picked up a couple of CDs today.
Out of all the recordings mentioned, the only disc that I found was Brahms Clarinet Quintet and Clarinet Trio with Thea King. I listened to it on the way home and it is excellent. Thanks Rushton for mentioning Thea King on Hyperion label! Very good, but unfortunately not cheap either. Paid $23 for a single CD.
While I was at B&N buying the above and searching for some more music, I found Gerald Finzi Concerto for Clarinet and Strings, with Five Bagatelles for Clarinet and Piano and on the same disc Charles Villiers Stanford Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra. All performed by Emma Johnson with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. I like Finzi so I took a chance. I briefly listened to it and Finzi's concerto is a really great piece! Unfortunately I am not thrilled with the performance by Emma Johnson as far as I could tell in the car, but the music is great.

I will start looking on-line to order some of the stuff mentioned here.

Thanks all, and please keep it coming.
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Glad you enjoyed the Thea King recording, Audphile1. In addition to enjoying Thea King, I find Hyperion's recording quality consistently excellent.
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