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American Record Guide

After studying chemistry and geography at Oxford, composer Geoffrey Allen (b. 1927) moved to Perth, Australia and worked as a music editor, publisher, and librarian. Here, 4 Perth-based musicians record 5 of his compo­sitions for woodwinds and piano. 3 of the pieces are for bassoon: the Sonata (1964), the Sonatina (1998), and the Pastorale (1998). The Outback Sketches (2005) for clarinet and piano is a substantial three-movement pro­grammatic work; and the Fantasy Trio (2007) for flute, clarinet, and piano is the longest selection, broken into 4 movements and requiring 20 minutes.

Allen wraps attractive lyricism and witty virtuosity in a congenial extended tonality; and though his writing is hardly groundbreak­ing, he aims to emphasize the best elements of each instrument. The renditions here have good energy; but they are also very rocky. The flute is too breathy and hollow; the clarinet has a likable earthy timbre that spreads a bit at loud volumes; and the bassoon routinely sports dreadful tone, control, and intonation. The piano handles the tricky scores well; but the sonics are boxy and unrefined. The com­poser deserves better.