Written materials rescuing rebecca clarke musical times article 1996 pdf 3. Despite the increasing number of recordings devoted to clarkes music, this one stakes a very personal case in its allcelloandpiano focus and will be welcomed and admired for its excellence. The piece shows off the impressionistic musical language clarke had developed, modeled on the music of claude debussy and ralph vaughan williams, that. Rebecca clarke morpheus for piano solo youtube rebecca clarke viola sonata with score duration. Some rebecca clarke masterpieces viola sonata 1919 tied for first prize in the coolidge competition piano trio 1921 won second prize in the coolidge competition prelude, allegro, and pastorale 1941 duo for clarinet and viola several other string chamber works. Clarke spent some years in the usa from 1916, touring and performing with her two brothers and english cellist may mukle. Her gender and victorian upbringing were both determining factors in the life and career of violist rebecca clarke.
The piece shows off the impressionistic musical language clarke had developed, modeled on the music of claude debussy and ralph vaughan williams, that is also apparent in her viola. London symphony orchestra concerts at the barbican centre in london. The piano is a full partner to the viola, contributing an equal share of melodic interest and colouristic effects. The bestknown of her works are the viola sonata 1919 and the trio for piano and. Her life stretched from the late victorian era through the end of the 1970s a period during which the role of women changed unimaginably. Two pieces for viola or violin and cello rebecca clarke. Please contact us for information about her estate. Rebecca clarke composer buy sheet music and scores. Its three movements are threaded together by the insistent, ha mmered gesture that appears immediately in the piano in the moderato ma appassionato. It was written in 1917 1 when clarke was pursuing a performing career in the united states. Throughout centuries of great classical music, many viola compositions have been crafted from a wealth of literature for instruments of similar range. Clarke was a viola player herself and she writes beautifully for the instrument. It was written in 1917 when clarke was pursuing a performing career in the united states.
Clarke was a distinguished violist who studied for many years at londons royal college of music. Musical activities were encouraged by her american father and german mother, but her fathera strict disciplinarianwithdrew her from the royal academy when she received a marriage proposal from her teacher percy hilder miles. Here is my arrangement of jonathan coultons still alive from the video game portal. A note to you is a joint production of northeastern university and wgbh, boston. Still alive for violin, viola, cello and piano portal. In november 2009, oxford music publishing gave me permission to transcribe and perform the prelude. Remembered today as one of the finest chamber music composers of the twentieth century, rebecca clarkes 18861979 sonata for viola and piano is a staple in viola repertoire.
Rebecca clarkes voice three clips from robert shermans 1976 interviews with clarke. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Viola sonata rebecca clarke concerts, introduction. Article on rebecca clarke from the new grove dictionary of music and.
Violin, viola, piano level c moderately difficult composed by rebecca clarke 18861979. Rebecca clarke born harrow, london, 27 august 1886 to usgerman parents died new york city, october 1979 was an extraordinary woman with a tough, unconventional and long life story. The clarke estate is currently managed by christopher johnson, of brooklyn, ny. Jeremy berry, viola michael refvem, piano rebecca clarke. Rebecca clarke composed the sonata for viola and piano, attributed to the year 1919, when the composer was 33 years old. Although her compositional output wasnt large like some of her contemporaries, the works that were composed were praised for their integrity. York, incidentally, is creating a performing edition of the rhapsody in collaboration with the rebecca clarke estate. One of few works by any woman composer to have entered the mainstream repertoire, clarke described the sonata as the one whiff of success that ive had in my life, yet it was greeted with skepticism when published in 1921.
Rebecca clarke bio, albums, pictures naxos classical music. Lullaby and grotesque version for viola and cello play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. She had been supporting herself with some success as a soloist. In november 2009, oxford music publishing gave me permission to transcribe and perform the prelude, allegro, and pastorale by. Britishborn composer and violist rebecca clarke 18861979 is best known for the sonata she composed for her own instrument. London symphony orchestra friday lunchtime concert. Set on the trinity college london singing syllabus, grade 6. Initially studying violin at the royal academy of music in london. Programme notes from lunchtime recital, weds 1st feb 2012. Her father, joseph clarke an american living in england, was a cruel domestic tyrant whose abusive behavior was a major influence in his daughters life. Rebecca clarke sonata for viola and piano arranged for. Clarke moved to the united states in 1916, after being disowned by her father. The programming of this disc reminds me of barbara westphal and jeffrey swanns bridge disc 9109 which included both the rebecca clarke and vieuxtemps but also included some enescu, whereas the zimmermanngerstein duo offers brahmss sonata in e flat major op.
This concert is celebration of rebecca clarke, a composer, violaplayer and one of the first female musicians to perform in a professional orchestra, featuring her viola sonata with lso violist lander echevarria and pianist. Clarke had moved to the united states in 1916, after being disowned by her father. Mar 03, 2012 morpheus for viola and piano rebecca clarke. Shorter pieces for viola and piano rebecca clarke viola oxford university press.
Rebecca clarke s music is often described along with that of vaughan williams as english impressionism, but her style ranges from lush postromantic as in the passionate viola sonata, her bestknown work to the taut neoclassicism of stravinsky as heard in her prelude, allegro, and pastorale. Clarinet, violin, and cello concerti and ensemble literature often adapt into challenging literature for the viola. Morpheus rebecca clarke oxford university press it is luxuriant in melodic inventions and startlingly beautiful in its instrumental colours. John yorks original composition, dialogue with rebecca clarke 2007, is less interesting, but an homage to clarke employing motifs from her viola sonata.
Morpheus was written in 1917 and premiered in new york in 1918 under the pseudonym. Rebecca clarke morpheus for viola and piano published by. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. Rebecca clarke 18861979 morpheus for viola and piano rebecca clarke was born in england and lived much of her adult life in new york. She was a wonderful violist and composer and played with musicians such as pablo casals, myra hess and arthur rubinstein. Rebecca clarke s sonata for viola or cello dates from 1919 while she was living in america and was composed for the berkshire, massachusetts music festival. Adagio rebecca clarke, born in harrow to a german mother and american father, studied composition with sir charles villiers stanford and viola with lionel tertis at the royal college of music. Rebecca thacher clarke was a pioneering female musician and composer of the early twentieth century. Rebecca clarkes sonata for viola or cello dates from 1919 while she was living in america and was composed for the berkshire, massachusetts music festival. Its for a violin, viola lead, cello and piano enjoy. Rebecca clarke lullaby and grotesque version for viola. Morpheus by rebecca clarke 18861979 sheet music for. Rebecca clarke composed the sonata for viola and piano, which was first known of in 1919, when the composer was 33 years old.
However, as this work was first published before 1925 or failed to meet notice. Rebecca clarke sonata for viola and piano arranged for cello and piano from hudson soirees plus. Morpheus is a composition for viola and piano by the english composer and violist rebecca clarke. This outcry is first passed to an understated cello and developed by both the strings. Rebecca clarke 27 august 1886 october 1979 was an english classical composer and violist best known for her chamber music featuring the viola. Clarke, rebecca all original works compositions and arrangements of this person are still under in canada, the eu, japan and elsewhere and. Oct 17, 2015 rebecca clarke composed the sonata for viola and piano, attributed to the year 1919, when the composer was 33 years old.
Shorter pieces for viola and piano by rebecca clarke, 9780193865990, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Clarke, rebecca all original works compositions and arrangements of this person are still under in canada, the eu, japan and elsewhere and are thus subject to immediate deletion. Clarke had moved to the united states in 1916, after being disowned by her. Rebecca clarke lullaby and grotesque version for viola and. Clarke, rebecca sonata for viola and piano 1919 chester.
Rebecca clarkes music is often described along with that of vaughan williams as english impressionism, but her style ranges from lush postromantic as in the passionate viola sonata, her bestknown work to the taut neoclassicism of stravinsky as heard in her prelude, allegro, and pastorale. The piano trio in eflat minor 1921 is one of rebecca clarkes best known works. I acknowledge the valuable contribution made by johnson in 1977, when he cataloged clarkes works in consultation with her. Buy rebecca clarkes music on cds and sheet music to play it. Radio broadcast with host virginia eskin and guest liane curtis with sound clips this program was first broadcast on january 9, 2000. Music for cello and piano, an album by rebecca clarke, raphael wallfisch, john york on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Rebecca clarke two pieces for viola or violin and cello. Programme notes from lunchtime recital, weds 1st feb. Rebecca clarke is not well known nowadays because most of her music was not published and started being published only since 1998 she was an english professional viola player and composer who composed several works for viola, for herself or to play with friends. The piano trio in eflat minor 1921 is one of rebecca clarke s best known works. If you wish to listen to more of clarkes music find here a selection of recordings you can buy and if you wish to play some of her works click on the pictures to see some editions of sheet music some works are suitable for intermediate, advanced players while some others are easier, like the shorter pieces.
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