Bass Clarinet

Othmar Schoeck (Composer), Olivier Messiaen (Composer), Frits Celis (Composer), Harald Genzmer (Composer), Dietrich Erdmann (Composer), Neil Varon (Conductor), Berlin Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Werner Hagen (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Werner Hagen
• Orchestra: Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Neil Varon
• Composer: Othmar Schoeck, Olivier Messiaen, Frits Celis, Harald Genzmer, Dietrich Erdmann
• Audio CD (March 19, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: MD&G Records
• ASIN: B0000021I4
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #496,914 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sonata, for bass clarinet & piano, Op. 41: Gemessen

2. Sonata, for bass clarinet & piano, Op. 41: Bewegt

3. Sonata, for bass clarinet & piano, Op. 41: Bewegt

4. Quatuor pour la fin du temps, for violin, cello, clarinet & piano, I/22: Abîme des oiseaux (Abrund der Vögel)

5. Da Uno a Cinque for bass clarinet & string quartet, Op. 27: I. Andante sostenuto - Quasi Berceuse

6. Da Uno a Cinque for bass clarinet & string quartet, Op. 27: II. Molto agitato - Allegro con fuoco - Molto tranquillo

7. Sonata for Bass Clarinet Solo (First Version 1984): Moderato

8. Sonata for Bass Clarinet Solo (First Version 1984): Presto

9. Sonata for Bass Clarinet Solo (First Version 1984): Intermezzo: Tranquillo

10. Sonata for Bass Clarinet Solo (First Version 1984): Finale: Vivacissimo, Moderato

11. Concerto for bass clarinet & orchestra: Adagio, Vivace

12. Concerto for bass clarinet & orchestra: Andante, quasi sostenuto

13. Concerto for bass clarinet & orchestra: Poco Adagio, cantabile

14. Concerto for bass clarinet & orchestra: Allegro grazioso

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's An Interesting Collection of Bass Clarinet Music, December 18, 1999

By 

Jonathan Smith (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bass Clarinet (Audio CD)

Renate Rusche has compiled an interesting collection of bass clarinet music for her CD, SCENE. There are solo pieces, a piece with piano accompaniment, one with a chamber group (Celis' Op. 27 for Bass Clarinet and String Quartet), and one concerto for Bass Clarinet and Orchestra (Dietrich Erdmann). Her playing is flawless, her tone is perfect and correct, but a little stiff at times. I'd like to hear less pure tone and more style.

Several of the pieces involve interplay between the soloist and the accompanist, and this could have been developed further or emphasized more. Still, they are all excellent performances, and this collection is well worth purchasing just for the exposure to the material (bass clarinet music is hard to find).

The most successful of the pieces are the solo pieces, where the capabilities of the instrument come out, especially the Sonata for Bass Clarinet Solo by Harald Genzmer. This one, plus the Abyss of the Birds solo by Messianen, are also successful because they avoid the tendency of the listener to hear the treble instruments over the bass ones (in some of the accompanied pieces the accompaniment stands out over the bass clarinet).

But definitely make this part of your library!