Tom Allen recounts the history and influence of Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet
Join us as Tom Allen, musician, consummate storyteller and host of About Time on CBC Radio 2, explores the creative passion behind Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet, a beloved masterwork of the Romantic era, and how it came to be. Discover how it has changed the course of music history through its profound influence on generations of composers as Graham Lord, principal clarinet, and London Symphonia’s String Quartet perform selections from works inspired by the richness of the composition, including Steve Reich’s rarely performed New York Counterpoint, in addition to the quintet.
Graham Lord, principal clarinetist and curator of The Brahms Effect with Tom Allen and Andrew Chung, Artistic Producer of London Symphonia discuss why the clarinet is such a magical pairing with the string quartet, the genius of Brahms' Clarinet Quintet, how Graham chose the repertoire for the concert, and Steve Reich's rarely performed New York Counterpoint, which creates the texture of a clarinet choir of 11 voices.
Program:
Gerald Finzi, from Five Bagatelles
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, from Clarinet Quintet
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, from Clarinet Concerto in A Major
Steve Reich, New York Counterpoint
Brahms, Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B Minor Op. 115
