Luminos: Contemporary Music for Clarinets
A captivating anthology of British clarinet compositions curated and performed by versatile musician Ronald Woodley and pianist Andrew West. This collection explores British musical modernism, featuring both new and underappreciated pieces from the twentieth century by composers Elisabeth Lutyens, Liz Dilnot Johnson, Angela Elizabeth Slater, Morris Pert, Christopher Fox, and Edward Cowie. Woodley’s deep-rooted fascination for the basset horn, inspired by Lutyens, drove him to rediscover the world of British musical modernism, revealing its complexities and dynamics.
Notable compositions in the anthology include Elisabeth Lutyens’ “This Green Tide”, Morris Pert’s “Luminos” and Liz Dilnot Johnson’s “The Space between Heaven and Earth”, all for the basset horn with piano, Angela Elizabeth Slater’s “Around the Darkening Sun” for bass clarinet and piano, for basset horn and piano, Christopher Fox’s “This has happened before” featuring multitracked bass clarinets, and Edward Cowie’s “Heather Jean Nocturnes” for bass clarinet inspired by visual art. This collection is a valuable addition for clarinet enthusiasts and music lovers, shedding light on the lesser-known gems of British music and showcasing the power of artistic collaboration across mediums, offering a glimpse into the evolution of British music.
Track Listing
- This Green Tide, Op. 103 10:15
- Around the Darkening Sun 5:25*
- Luminos, Op. 16a 16:22
- This has happened before* 10:54
- I. Lirico 1:21
- II. Drammatico 0:47
- III. Doloroso 1:41
- IV. Pastorale 0:46
- V. Declamatorio 0:35
- I. Winter 4:19
- II. Spring 1:08
- III. Summer 1:24
- IV. Autumn 1:08
- I. The Singing Stream - Evening 4:08
- II. Sun and Moon Dancing 4:11
- III. Okavango Dream Streams 4:00
- IV. Lake Eacham Blue 3:31
- V. Earth Nocturnal 3:58 * World Premiere Recording
Elisabeth Lutyens
Angela Elizabeth Slater
Morris Pert
Chrisopher Fox
Elisabeth Lutyens
Five Little Pieces, Op. 14 No. 1*
Liz Dilnot Johnson
The Space Between Heaven and Earth*
Edward Cowie
Heather Jean Nocturnes*
Reviews
“I would recommend this album to anyone that is looking for new works…brought to life by Ronald Woodley’s wonderfully emotive and expressive playing.
” —Jason Adler
“Woodley pours his soul into the entire program, shaping each phrase with a wide range of dynamics and executing all requested extended techniques…His diffuse sound has roots in the British clarinet dialect of the past…West is a first-rate keyboardist, handling the demands of each score with marvelous dexterity.
” —Patrick Hanudel
“I applaud the thought that went into the program. The results were worth the effort. Woodley’s choice of composers is also spot on…some fine emotive performances.
” —Ralph Graves
“It is very difficult to find fault with any aspect of this disc, from performance and recording to selection of repertoire. This is absolutely not for clarinetists only…
” —Colin Clarke
“This is a great resource for representing British contemporary music. Ronald Woodley should be congratulated on actively expanding the music available today for the basset horn and bass clarinet.
” —Adrian Connell
“The playing of both performers [Andrew West, Ronald Woodley] is beyond reproach. Given a crystal-clear recording, this excellent Métier disc makes the perfect case for some striking, challenging and ultimately rewarding music.
” —Kevin Landry
“There is, therefore, a spiritual and an environmental aspect to this music…considerable beauty in the interaction of the soloists. The recording is ideal. I found the performances illuminating and…inspiring.
” —John France
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