I found this image of a clarinet next to a precariously tipped glass of martini, on Getty images. I would be rather worried if I were the owner of that clarinet….
I have written a work for solo clarinet called “Michal 06”. It will be receiving a second performance on 18th September in London, at the New Winds Festival, played by Phil Edwards. I’m not sure yet of the venue, but will keep you posted. Please keep this date free for this, and newer works for winds.
Michal 06 starts off as jazz, then progressing into a section based on oriental-style modes, which in turn progresses into a section which is Impressionistic in character. Although these three styles are so contrasting, the transition from one into the other seems seamless and natural. In the final section, these three styles are fused.
You can hear a recording of Michal 06 played most beautifully by Phil Edwards here:
If you’re thinking: I’ve heard it now, so there’s no point in coming to the recital, my answer to you is: not so!!! Now it’s familiar, you’ll enjoy the performance more, and you’ll be getting the live, visual, compression-free experience. Martini: I think you’ll need to bring your own.
Speaking of compression: I’m starting to think it should be outlawed! I understand completely why so many people are reverting to vinyl, and am so pleased that I have kept my vinyl collection. I used to feel music played on my record player with all my being, and now, with mp3s, it’s as if it’s all 2D instead of 3D. My priority, as soon as I have the space, is to get a really good sound system, and to do away with mp3 recordings as far as possible. It’s so convenient to be able to listen to Youtube recordings or to go to Naxos, but for the listening experience, I think it was far more worthwhile to make a trip to the music library, incur huge fines, etc. in order to take out LPs or even CDs. Surely performers and composers want people to hear their music at its best, and not all compressed and flattened and deadened. They could start refusing to allow their music to appear in mp3 format – but only really established artistes could really afford to do that.
In the meantime, it seems a whole generation has only ever heard compressed mp3 recordings, except when they go to live concerts. How sad is that?!!!
Marilyn Herman 