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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
dupzyk
29 posts
 
Glad you liked the wright w serkin and the shepard on the rock -- those are two of my favorites too-- I think Wright is incredibly muiscal and his legato playing was unmatched id second rushtons seeking out ricardo morales recordings too-- ive heard hom a couple of times in person and i think he is fabulous. Carol
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
5,183 posts
 
Carol, thanks again. You know, Wright's playing on Schubert's Shepherd on the Rock is great but I was also impressed with Benita Valente. She has a crystal clear soprano and the blend of her voice with the sound of clarinet is something really special.
A minor complaint would be about the level of hiss on that particular piece on the cd. It's a bit excessive. But not that much of a concern. Great music though.

I will make sure to check out Morales recordings.
opalchip
355 posts
 
Here's a unique one - I just picked up this independent, clarinet-centric LP at a library sale yesterday and very much like it. It's "modern" classical, but NOT modern in the form of random, irritable screeching. I'd call it "Mostly Melodic Modern". If you're into clarinet especially, it's enjoyable and unique listening IMO:

Richard Wilson (composer) approx. 1986- on the Opus 1 label, recording quality is excellent to audiophile. There's no actual album title, but tracks are:

Side 1
Line Drawings - clarinet duo
Gnomics - clarinet, oboe, flute

Side 2
Dithyramb - clarinet, oboe
Serenade - clarinet, viola, double bass

Clarinetist on all 4 pieces is Larry Guy, who has been Principal with the Joffrey Ballet, New York City Ballet, and Paul Taylor Dance Company.

You can LISTEN to a very long clip (might be the whole piece actually) of "Gnomics" here :
http://www.peermusicclassical.com/composer/composerdetail.cfm?detail=wilsonaudio

You can read quite a bit about Wilson here:
http://www.peermusicclassical.com/composer/composerdetail.cfm?detail=wilsonessay

There are a couple of these on Ebay currently with Buy It Now's.
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