CATALOGUE 2017 www.samekmusic.com Founded in 1992 by acclaimed clarinetist Victoria Soames Samek, Clarinet & Saxophone Classics celebrates the single reed in all its richness and diversity. It’s a unique specialist label devoted to releasing top quality recordings by the finest artists of today on modern and period instruments, as well as sympathetically restored historical recordings of great figures from the past supported by informative notes. Having created her own brand, Samek Music, Victoria is committed to excellence through recordings, publications, learning resources and live performances. Samek Music is dedicated to the clarinet and saxophone, giving a focus for the wonderful world of the single reed. www.samek music.com For further details contact Victoria Soames Samek, Managing Director and Artistic Director Tel: + 44 (0) 20 8472 2057 • Mobile + 44 (0) 7730 987103 • [email protected] • www.samekmusic.com Central Clarinet Repertoire 1 CC0001 COPLAND: SONATA FOR CLARINET Clarinet Music by Les Six PREMIERE RECORDING Featuring the World Premiere recording of Copland’s own reworking of his Violin Sonata, this exciting disc also has the complete music for clarinet and piano of the French group known as ‘Les Six’. Aaron Copland Sonata (premiere recording); Francis Poulenc Sonata; Germaine Tailleferre Arabesque, Sonata; Arthur Honegger Sonatine; Darius Milhaud Duo Concertant, Sonatine Victoria Soames Samek clarinet, Julius Drake piano ‘Most sheerly seductive record of the year.’ THE SUNDAY TIMES CC0011 SOLOS DE CONCOURS Brought together for the first time on CD – a fascinating collection of pieces written for the final year students studying at the paris conservatoire for the Premier Prix, by some of the most prominent French composers. Georges Marty Première Fantasie; Henri Rabaud Solo de concours; Paul Pierné Andante – Scherzo; Jules Mazellier Fantasie – Ballet; Eugène Bozza Bucolique; André Messager Solo de concours; Reynaldo Hahn Sarabande et Thème Varié; Claude Debussy Première Rapsodie; Philippe Gaubert Fantasie; Gabriel Grovlez Lamento et Tarantelle; Jean Françaix Tema con variazioni Victoria Soames Samek clarinet, Jonathan Higgins piano ‘Soames plays all the works with virtuosity, finesse, and a full attractive tone.’ FANFARE CC0014 THE BEL CANTO CLARINETTIST PREMIERE RECORDING In a wonderful new recording, Colin Bradbury brings together a collection of pieces based on well- known arias from Italian opera. Written in the Romantic era these works, by turn tuneful and virtuosic, are treasure troves of music making. Ernesto Cavallini Variazioni sopra un tema nell’opera La straniera di Bellini; Domenico Liverani Melodie dei Puritani di Bellini; F. Fasanotti and A. Spadina Duetto concertante sopra motivi dell’opera Mosè di Rossini; Donato Lovreglio Fantasia sull’opera Un ballo in maschera di G. Verdi, Fantasia sull’opera Maria Stuarda di G. Donizetti; G. Dacci Aida di G. Verdi – Fantasia per clarinetto e pianoforte Colin Bradbury clarinet, Oliver Davies piano ‘Bradbury is an impressive clarinettist with a beautiful tone and a fluent technique.’ AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE CC0016 BRAHMS CHAMBER MUSIC FOR CLARINET Inspired by the playing of Richard Muhlfeld, Brahms’ late masterpieces for clarinet. This CD features the two Sonatas for Clarinet and Piano and also the Clarinet Trio. Wonderful examples of Brahms late flowering, in these autumnal works. Johannes Brahms Clarinet Sonata No. 1 in F minor op. 120, Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E flat op. 120, Clarinet Trio in A minor op. 114 Victoria Soames Samek clarinet, James Potter cello, Jonathan Higgins piano, The Mühlfeld Ensemble ‘…Soames in a personal booklet-note admits that revealing the “intimate nature of the music” was her own special aim. This is apparent throughout in her tonal mellowness…’ GRAMOPHONE Central Clarinet Repertoire 2 CC0022 THE VICTORIAN CLARINET TRADITION Following their highly successful Bel Canto Clarinettist, this distinguished duo goes from strength to strength in this disc, which features little known but delightful music written for the eminent clarinettists of the day. Henry Lazarus Fantasia on Favorite Scotch Melodies; Sir George Alexander Macfarren Traditions of Shakespeare, A Widow Bird, Pack Clouds Away; Ebenezer Prout Sonata in D major; Charles Harford Lloyd Bon Voyage; Otto Goldschmidt Evening; Algernon Ashton Tarantella; Edward German Romance Colin Bradbury clarinet, Oliver Davies piano, Elaine Barry soprano ‘Bradbury and Davies…keen sympathetic advocates.’ GRAMOPHONE CC0023 THE ENGLISH ROMANTICS PREMIERE RECORDING This CD promotes the wonderful sound of clarinet, bassoon and piano in a programme which is both romantic in style and rich in sound and includes two of the great British trio for this combination together with World Premiere recordings of two rare works by Herbert Howells. William Hurlstone Trio in G minor, Four Characteristic Pieces; Herbert Howells A Near Minuet, Minuet: Grace for a Fresh Egg; Charles Harford Lloyd Trio Victoria Soames Samek clarinet, Laurence Perkins bassoon, John Flinders piano ‘Victoria Soames and her colleagues should be commended for their assiduous scholarship and research in bringing this hitherto obscure music, some of which is still unpublished, to our attention.’ BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE CC0025 ON THE WINDS OF ENGLISH MELODY Victoria Soames Samek has chosen British works from the first half of the 20th century. Having produced few notable composers in the previous century, British music saw a sudden flowering in a new generation of composers. Victoria’s recital features music from some of the outstanding composers of this generation. John Ireland Fantasy Sonata; Charles Villiers Stanford Sonata; Malcolm Arnold Sonatina; Gerald Finzi Five Bagatelles; Ralph Vaughan Williams Six Studies on English Folk Songs; Arthur Bliss Pastoral Victoria Soames Samek clarinet, John Flinders piano ‘This latest disc from an attractive label is a celebration of clarinet music written in the first half of the century… John Ireland’s Fantasy Sonata, a suave, wistful single movement… beautifully played.’ THE SUNDAY TIMES CC0030 THE CLARINET IN BOHEMIA Concertos and quartets PREMIERE RECORDING In an exciting programme, the eminent French clarinettist, Phillipe Cuper, Principal in the Paris Opera and soloist on highly acclaimed concerto discs, joins the growing list of world class musicians recording for Clarinet Classics. Johann Stamitz Concerto in B-flat major; Anon. (18th century) Concerto in E-flat major; Carl Stamitz Quartet in E-flat major op. 8 no. 2, Quartet in A major op. 14; Stamitz Quartet in E-flat major; Franz Xaver Pokorny Concerto in B-flat major Philippe Cuper clarinet, Jean-Jacques Justaffre horn, Thibaud Vieux violin, Noëlle Santos viola, Philippe Ferret cello, Talich Chamber Orchestra conducted by Petr Vronsky, Les Virtuoses de l’Opéra (Paris) ‘Philippe Cuper is certainly among the best-known French clarinettists performing today…this new recording marks somewhat of a departure from his earlier discs in that his focus is relatively unknown music from 18th-century Bohemian composers.’ THE CLARINET Central Clarinet Repertoire 3 CC0032 TIMES FOR FLYING Duets for two clarinets Victoria Soames Samek and Colin Lawson present a fascinating collection of clarinet duets through the ages. Covering a wide range of styles and idioms, this CD will be a terrific resource for clarinet players wanting to explore the wealth of clarinet duet repertoire. This distinguished list of composers will also prove a hugely attractive CD for listeners new to this idiom. C. P. E. Bach Duet; J. X. Lefèvre Duo Concertant op. 13 no. 3; C. A. P. Braun Duo; Ernesto Cavallini Grand Duet No. 1; Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Canzonetta, Tarantella; Alexander Glazunov Four Duets; Francis Poulenc Sonata for two clarinets; Charles Koechlin Idyll; Gunther Schuller Duo Sonata; Gordon Lewin Views of the Blues; Sadie Harrison Times for Flying; László Király Hungarian Folk Songs Colin Lawson clarinet/basset-horn, Victoria Soames Samek clarinet/basset-horn/bass clarinet ‘Once again Clarinet Classics has appreciably enriched the recorded repertoire with this excellently produced CD.’ CLARINET & SAXOPHONE SOCIETY CC0036 THE JARDIN FÉERIQUE French music for clarinet sextet Featuring French repertoire in beautiful arrangements which listeners will really enjoy. This delightful collection compromises pieces from well known French repertoire for clarinet sextet. Claude Debussy Deux Arabesques, Six Epigraphes antiques, La Fille aux cheveux de lin, Petite Suite, etc., arr. Alan Andrews and Tim Payne The Clarinet Section: Victoria Loram E flat/DIan Scott B flat/AVictoria Medcalf B flat/ATim Payne alto/contra-alto Steve Morris bass/B flatAlan Andrews contra-bass/contra-alto/B flat/A flat ‘On this disc are to be found arrangements for clarinet sextet of well-known piano music by Debussy and Ravel. It works surprisingly well…the Clarinet Section’s high standards of musicianship go a long way towards making the exercise an enjoyable one.’ BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE CC0042 CONCERTOS BY MERCADANTE Concertos, concertoni This collection of clarinet concertos are wonderful examples of the light Italian operatic genre and are brilliantly played here by thr distinguished Italian clarinettist Luigi Magistrelli. Saverio Mercadante Concerto in B flat major op. 101, Concertone No. 1 in F major, Concertone No. 2 in F major, Concertone No. 3 in F major, Concerto in E flat major op. 76 Luigi Magistrelli clarinet, Laura Magistrelli clarinet, Elena Cecconi flute, Alfredo Pedretti horn, Lario