The Chester Clarinet Anthology: Clarinet: Instrumental Album

Martin Scheuregger's Death And The Lady for Voice Clarinet and Cello. Composed 2014 published 2016. Score included in UYMP's Firewheel Anthology (ISMN M-57036-615-6) recorded by Dark Inventions. Duration: 4 minutes. This is a simple arrangement of the traditional folksong for Voice Clarinet and Cello which aims to let the haunting melody take centre stage. The cautionary tale tells of a woman who meets Death earlier than she wishes. Commissioned by Dark Inventions first performed by them on 8th May 2014 at The Engine House Manchester.

The Four Last Things for Clarinet Percussion and Cello. Composed 2014 published 2016. Score included in UYMP's Firewheel Anthology (ISMN M-57036-615-6) recorded by Dark Inventions. Duration: 8 minutes. The Four Last Things takes its title from Hieronymus Bosch’s painting ‘The Seven Deadly Sins and The Four Last Things’ a work of art that depicts its religious subject matter in the visceral style associated with its artist. Bosch’s work has always fascinated me: its detail immediacy and sometimes grotesque subject matter keep me coming back to it. There is no direct parallel with the painting in this piece but inspiration has been taken from the manner in which Bosch juxtaposes images whilst creating consistency and continuity between individual parts. The simultaneous discreteness and dependency of separate elements is mirrored in the treatment here of instruments as both soloists and part of the group. Each player has moments of overt dominance but even whilst providing more of an accompanying role they still present material that is striving to be heard above the rest. Commissioned by Dark Inventions and first performed by them on 8th May 2014 at The Engine House Manchester.

Möbius Sticks for Clarinet Percussion and Cello. Composed 2014 published 2016. Score included in UYMP's Firewheel Anthology (ISMN M-57036-615-6) recorded by Dark Inventions. Duration: 5 minutes. Named after German mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius a Möbius strip has only one surface and one boundary. Inspired by this phenomenon Möbius Sticks is built around a constantly twisting but ultimately singular melodic line set in motion by the Percussion. The other instruments weave melodic strands and try to impose some sense of direction on proceedings but all they can do is merely shed a slightly differing light on theinfinitely repeating strip that runs through the centre of the piece. Commissioned by Dark Inventions and first performed by them on 8th May 2014 at The Engine House Manchester.

The Cruel Mother for Voice Flute Clarinet Violin and Cello. Composed 2014 published 2016. Score included in UYMP's Firewheel Anthology (ISMN M-57036-615-6) recorded by Dark Inventions. Duration: 6-7 minutes. The murderous tale of infanticide that is told in The Cruel Mother ballad is widely known in a number of forms. It has been performed and recorded by folk singers such as Martin Carthy Maddy Prior and Bella Hardy amongst many others and inspired Down by the Greenwood Side by Harrison Birtwistle. The particular melody used in this arrangement was collected by H.E.D. Hammond in Dorset in 1907. Thematter-of-fact representation of the terrible tale that characterizes the tune is augmented by the quintuple metre and cheerful instrumental refrain. Commissioned by Dark Inventions and first performed by them on 8th May 2014 at The Engine House Manchester.