New Woodwind Albums from Geoffrey Allen Coming in 2020

Divine Art’s new-music division, Métier Records, will be releasing two albums of music by veteran Australian composer Geoffrey Allen this year. The first is an album of music for woodwind, which was recorded this January and will be released in the late summer. The music is for flute, clarinet and bassoon, all with piano. Of particular note are the three works for solo bassoon and piano, a brief Pastorale, a Sonatina, and a full-blown Sonata.

The artists are all local Perth musicians: Allan Meyer and Michael Waye from the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, Katherine Walpole who teaches bassoon at both the University of WA and the WA Academy of Performing Arts, and David Wickham, one of Australia’s leading accompanists.

In preparation for recording later this year is a set of music for flute (details to follow in the summer).

Born in 1927 and still incredibly active, Geoffrey Allen is something of a legend in his own country especially in the Perth area but has yet to establish a substantial international reputation. As well as being a fine composer, Allen also established and managed the Keys Press music publishing business until his retirement only recently. His music first appeared on a Divine Art album in 2001 with the Fourth Piano Sonata and Three Piano Pieces were performed by Trevor Barnard (‘Blue Wrens – piano music from Australia, Divine Art DDA 25017). 

These new recordings are in addition to the 4-disc set containing Allen’s Piano Sonatas, performed by Murray McLachlan, which is being recorded this spring (details were announced some time ago).

Geoffrey Allen: Music for Woodwinds (MSV 28607)

Works

• Pastorale, for bassoon and piano
• Outback Sketches, for clarinet and piano
• Sonata for Bassoon and Piano
• Trio for Flute, Clarinet and Piano
• Sonatina for Bassoon and Piano

Artists

• Katherine Walpole (bassoon)
• Allan Meyer (clarinet)
• Michael Waye (flute)
• David Wickham (piano)

Recorded in January 2020 in Perth, Western Australia