Together with pianist Michael McHale, Michael Collins continues his exploration of the chamber repertoire for clarinet. After delving into French music (BIS-2497) and the Brahms Sonatas (BIS-2557), he now turns his attention to British music with this recital, which spans a century of music for clarinet and piano and highlights the unique relationship between English composers and this instrument.
The earliest works featured on this recording are the Three Intermezzi and the Sonata by Charles Villiers Stanford, a composer who made no secret of his debt to Brahms. Like his Viennese counterpart, Stanford’s music is both poised and seductive, beautifully crafted for both instruments.
Gerald Finzi, known for the strength of his vocal music, also makes the clarinet sing in his Five Bagatelles, composed during the Second World War. Light and touching, these pieces offer a personal reinterpretation of the baroque dances found in Bach’s instrumental suites.
Malcolm Arnold’s Sonatina, with its energy and nods to jazz and dance music, has unsurprisingly always been popular with clarinettists. Lastly, Joseph Horovitz, the most recent composer in chronological order, is represented by his Two Majorcan Pieces and Sonatina. His music, once again, is playful and serves as an excellent showcase for the clarinet.
